Philippine Senate opens impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, opened the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday (July 6, 2026) in a politically charged proceeding set against the backdrop of her bitter feud with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

More than 6,000 police officers, including anti-riot squads, were deployed to secure the Senate, where both pro- and anti-Duterte demonstrators were expected to gather. Ms. Duterte or her legal representatives may appear at the start of the trial, which is scheduled to run for 92 days, according to a pretrial plan reviewed by The Associated Press.

If convicted on charges that include amassing unexplained wealth and publicly threatening to have President Marcos assassinated, Ms. Duterte could be permanently barred from holding public office. She has denied all allegations.

Political Fallout and Future Prospects

A conviction would deliver a severe blow to Ms. Duterte's announced plan to run for president in mid-2028, when Mr. Marcos completes his six-year term. The two were running mates in the 2022 elections, forming a powerful alliance that combined the electoral strength of two of the country's most influential political dynasties. That alliance rapidly unraveled.

The Vice President is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Mr. Marcos' predecessor. The former president was arrested last year on orders of the International Criminal Court and flown to The Hague, where he remains detained and is scheduled to face trial on November 30 for alleged crimes against humanity.

The charges against Rodrigo Duterte stem from his brutal anti-drug crackdowns, which left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead and drew alarm from Western governments and human rights groups. He has denied authorizing extrajudicial killings but repeatedly threatened suspects with death while in office.

The Vice President has blamed Mr. Marcos for her 81-year-old father's arrest and extradition to the ICC.

Contrasting Geopolitical Leanings

Mr. Marcos and the Dutertes hold sharply divergent geopolitical views:

• President Marcos has expanded defense engagements with the United States, the country's treaty ally, as his administration confronts China's increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea.
• Rodrigo Duterte cultivated close ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin while threatening to sever relations with Washington.
• Sara Duterte has faced criticism for failing to condemn Chinese assaults—including the use of powerful water cannons—against Filipino forces and fishermen in the disputed waters.

Charges Against Vice President Duterte

Last month, the House of Representatives, dominated by Mr. Marcos' allies, voted overwhelmingly to impeach the Vice President on the following allegations:

• Unexplained wealth
• Misuse of confidential state funds
• Public threats to have the president, his wife, and a former House speaker assassinated if she herself were killed due to their political disputes

Ms. Duterte has generally denied the charges but has refused to publicly address the allegations in detail ahead of the trial. Her supporters accuse Mr. Marcos and his key aides of politically persecuting the Vice President and her senatorial allies to secure her impeachment.

A two-thirds majority of the 24-member Senate—16 votes—is required to convict.

Image: Philippine Senate convenes for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. | Photo Credit: AP