Manila: Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has been ordered by lawmakers to respond to impeachment complaints after a congressional committee found substance in allegations against the senior political figure. The decision by the House of Representatives justice committee has moved the impeachment process forward following a review of multiple complaints.
The case against Sara Duterte includes accusations of unexplained wealth, misuse of confidential government funds and public threats directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Lawmakers have requested a formal response before deciding whether the case should advance to a full impeachment trial in the Senate.
If convicted in a Senate trial, Duterte would be removed from office and permanently barred from holding any future government position. The vice president remains a prominent figure in national politics and is widely seen as a potential contender in the 2028 presidential election.
The proceedings have taken place during an increasingly bitter political dispute between Duterte and President Marcos. Both leaders belong to influential political families that formed an alliance during the 2022 elections before relations deteriorated into a political rivalry.
Duterte’s legal team has stated that it will carefully review the committee’s decision. The defence team said that the allegations will be addressed through constitutional procedures rather than public debate in the media.
The complaints filed against Duterte also include allegations related to bribery and statements interpreted as threats against the president, the president’s wife and a relative who previously served as House speaker. Representative Leila de Lima, who endorsed one of the complaints, said that, the progress of the impeachment process represents an important step toward accountability.
Initially four impeachment complaints were submitted against Duterte. One complaint was dismissed because constitutional rules prevent new complaints from being filed within a year of a previous filing, while another was withdrawn because it overlapped with another case and was intended to speed up proceedings.
The House of Representatives will now review any response submitted by Duterte before determining whether the impeachment case should proceed to trial in the Senate.
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