Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte Impeached for the Second Time

(SeaPRwire) –   The Philippine House of Representatives voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday—for the second time—over allegations of unexplained wealth, misuse of public funds, and plotting to assassinate her former ally, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The latest impeachment occurred more than nine months after the Supreme Court nullified the first attempt due to a constitutional procedural issue; however, the ruling did not block future impeachment efforts.

Following deliberations, 257 lawmakers supported the impeachment, initially reported by the House as 255 votes—surpassing the required one-third majority needed. With this vote, Duterte, a member of the nation’s most influential political dynasty, became the first person in the country’s history to be impeached twice.

Duterte will now face trial before the Philippine Senate, which analysts say represents the true test ahead: “The way the impeachment trial unfolds publicly will influence how voters perceive her presidential bid,” says Jean Encinas-Franco, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines, speaking with TIME.

A powerful faction supporting Duterte holds sway in the Senate. After the House first impeached her last year, the Senate halted proceedings, citing the Supreme Court’s decision. This year, as the House moved forward with the new impeachment, a majority of senators elected a known ally of the Duterte family as Senate president—who has denied that the impeachment influenced the leadership change.

In February, Duterte announced her intention to run for president in the 2028 national elections. She continues to lead in public opinion polls as the leading contender to succeed Marcos, who is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election due to term limits. Duterte ran alongside Marcos in the 2022 election, securing a decisive victory, but the two have since become political adversaries, fueling a bitter rivalry that has plunged the country into political and economic instability.

A guilty verdict at the Senate could end Duterte’s political career, the daughter of former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained by the International Criminal Court facing charges related to a deadly drug war during his administration.

If convicted, Duterte would be removed from office and barred from holding public office in the future. Nevertheless, Manila-based political scientist Cleve Arguelles told TIME that the impeachment may actually strengthen support among her base: “It could deepen loyalty among supporters and preserve her chances for the 2028 race.”

The Vice President has claimed that the impeachment is politically motivated and maintains her innocence.

Duterte is the highest-ranking official ever impeached in the Philippines since former President Joseph Estrada in 2000, though that trial collapsed when prosecutors withdrew their case. Estrada later resigned from office.

Of the five public officials impeached in Philippine history—including Duterte—only one, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, has been convicted.