MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Senate convened as an impeachment court on Monday to begin the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, launching a politically significant process that could reshape the country’s leadership ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
The proceedings opened amid heightened security in Manila, with more than 6,000 police officers, including anti-riot units, deployed around the Senate complex. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside, calling for Duterte’s conviction.
Duterte did not attend the opening session in person and was represented by her legal team. According to a pretrial schedule reviewed by The Associated Press, the trial is expected to run for 92 days.
If convicted, Duterte could be permanently barred from holding public office, ending her stated intention to run for president when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s six-year term concludes in 2028. She has denied the allegations against her.
Prosecution and Defense Outline Their Cases
House of Representatives prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro told the impeachment court that prosecutors were prepared to present sufficient evidence and witness testimony to support the charges.
“This is the moment when the republic must demonstrate that laws are applied equally to the powerful and the powerless alike,” Luistro said.
Duterte’s lead defense lawyer, Sheila Sison, questioned whether the prosecution possesses credible evidence to substantiate its accusations.
“This court, and we as a people, must guarantee that all efforts to hold our leaders accountable must be done right,” Sison told senators. “Impeachment should never be abused.”
The impeachment complaint includes allegations that Duterte amassed unexplained wealth, misused confidential government funds and publicly threatened to have President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and a former House speaker assassinated if she herself were killed during the political dispute. Duterte has generally denied the accusations and has declined to address them publicly in detail before the trial.
Trial Follows Collapse of Marcos-Duterte Alliance
The impeachment proceedings come after the dramatic breakdown of the political alliance that brought Marcos and Duterte to power in the 2022 national elections.
Running on a joint ticket, the two united the influence of two of the Philippines’ most prominent political families. However, relations between the Marcos and Duterte camps quickly deteriorated after they assumed office.
The House of Representatives, where Marcos’ allies hold a majority, voted overwhelmingly last month to impeach the vice president.
Supporters of Duterte have accused the Marcos administration and its allies of using the impeachment process to weaken a potential rival ahead of the next presidential election.
Under the Philippine Constitution, at least two-thirds of the 24-member Senate, or 16 senators, must vote to convict the vice president.
Political and Foreign Policy Differences Deepened Rift
The political conflict has intensified since the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte’s father, on an International Criminal Court warrant last year.
Rodrigo Duterte was transferred to The Hague, where he is scheduled to stand trial on Nov. 30 over alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign. He has denied authorizing extrajudicial killings, although he repeatedly threatened suspected drug offenders while serving as president.
Sara Duterte has blamed President Marcos for facilitating her father’s arrest and transfer to the ICC.
The two political camps have also differed sharply on foreign policy.
Marcos has strengthened defense cooperation with the United States, the Philippines’ treaty ally, while taking a firmer stance against China’s increasingly assertive activities in the disputed South China Sea.
By contrast, Rodrigo Duterte pursued closer relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during his presidency while frequently criticizing Washington. Sara Duterte has also faced criticism for not publicly condemning China’s actions against Philippine forces and fishermen in disputed waters.
Senate Composition Adds Further Complexity
The impeachment trial unfolds as legal challenges involving several senators add another layer of political uncertainty.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who is aligned with the Duterte political bloc, was arrested and detained last month on a nonbailable plunder charge related to an alleged flood-control bribery scheme. Estrada has denied wrongdoing.
Another Duterte ally in the Senate, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, was arrested Monday on a nonbailable plunder charge involving alleged undisclosed campaign donations. Marcoleta has also denied the allegations.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa remains out of public view after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant naming him as a co-perpetrator in the killings linked to Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. Dela Rosa served as the former president’s national police chief during the crackdown.
The Senate trial is expected to continue through the coming months, with its outcome likely to have lasting implications for Philippine politics, governance and the balance of power ahead of the country’s next presidential election.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Article Topics: Philippines | Sara Duterte | Impeachment Trial | Ferdinand Marcos Jr. | Senate | Rodrigo Duterte | ICC | Politics
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