The Philippine Senate began hearing the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte on the 6th. On May 11th, the House of Representatives passed the impeachment case against her and submitted it to the Senate for trial.
According to Philippine media, the outcome of this impeachment case will directly impact the country's political landscape, attracting widespread attention from all sectors of society. Sara is the first vice president in Philippine history to face impeachment.
At 48 years old, Sara is the eldest daughter of former Philippine President Duterte and is considered a frontrunner for the next presidential election. Since incumbent President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election, if Sara survives impeachment, she is expected to be one of the most competitive candidates for the 2028 election. However, if convicted, she will not only be removed from office but also be barred from holding any government position, effectively ending her political future.
Sara currently faces four articles of impeachment, including betrayal of public trust, alleged plotting to assassinate President Marcos Jr., abuse of confidential intelligence funds, and corruption allegations arising from unexplained sources of wealth. Sara has adamantly denied all charges, asserting that the impeachment is politically motivated slander.
Marcos Jr. and Sara both come from prominent political families in the Philippines. They formed an alliance in the 2022 election, which was once seen as a powerful partnership. However, the political alliance quickly fell apart and escalated into an intense family rivalry.
According to regulations, a conviction requires the support of two-thirds of the 24 senators. However, analysts point out that 14 senators have already expressed support for Sara this year, so the outcome remains uncertain.
The Philippine National Police stated that approximately 6,000 police officers have been deployed around the Senate building to handle the emotionally charged public demonstrations expected to take place.