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Vice President Sara Duterte Faces Impeachment Amid Escalating Feud with President Marcos
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The Philippine House of Representatives has approved impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, following accusations of corruption and alleged threats to assassinate President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The move, backed by 215 out of 306 lawmakers, marks a dramatic escalation in the political rift between the two leaders, both heirs to influential political dynasties.
Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has denied the charges, claiming they stem from a politically motivated vendetta. The impeachment bill now moves to the Senate, which will act as a trial court. If convicted, she risks removal from office and a permanent ban from public roles—a significant blow to her presidential ambitions ahead of the 2028 elections.
The feud between Duterte and Marcos, once allies under the “UniTeam” banner during the 2022 elections, has deepened over policy disagreements, including divergent approaches to U.S.-China relations and Marcos’s reversal of her father’s drug war tactics. Tensions flared further when Duterte resigned as education secretary in 2023 and later made controversial remarks about retaliating against Marcos.
The impeachment trial, if held, will be only the third in Philippine history to reach a verdict. Analysts view the mid-term elections in May as a critical test of public sentiment toward both leaders. Marcos has yet to comment on the impeachment, though he previously dismissed such efforts as a “waste of time.” Duterte’s camp, including her brother Paolo, condemned the move as “political persecution,” warning it risks destabilizing governance.
The outcome could reshape the nation’s political landscape, testing the resilience of democracy in a country long dominated by familial power struggles.
Note: This AI-generated summary may contain inaccuracies. For complete context, refer to the full article.
Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has denied the charges, claiming they stem from a politically motivated vendetta. The impeachment bill now moves to the Senate, which will act as a trial court. If convicted, she risks removal from office and a permanent ban from public roles—a significant blow to her presidential ambitions ahead of the 2028 elections.
The feud between Duterte and Marcos, once allies under the “UniTeam” banner during the 2022 elections, has deepened over policy disagreements, including divergent approaches to U.S.-China relations and Marcos’s reversal of her father’s drug war tactics. Tensions flared further when Duterte resigned as education secretary in 2023 and later made controversial remarks about retaliating against Marcos.
The impeachment trial, if held, will be only the third in Philippine history to reach a verdict. Analysts view the mid-term elections in May as a critical test of public sentiment toward both leaders. Marcos has yet to comment on the impeachment, though he previously dismissed such efforts as a “waste of time.” Duterte’s camp, including her brother Paolo, condemned the move as “political persecution,” warning it risks destabilizing governance.
The outcome could reshape the nation’s political landscape, testing the resilience of democracy in a country long dominated by familial power struggles.
Note: This AI-generated summary may contain inaccuracies. For complete context, refer to the full article.