Philippine vice president impeached by House, faces Senate trial
Associated Press
Philippine House Impeaches Vice Pres. Sara Duterte
Above:Â Sara Duterte holds a press conference at a hospital in Quezon City, Metro Manila on Nov. 26, 2024. Â Image copyright:Â JAM STA ROSA/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
The Philippine House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to impeach Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, with 215 out of 306 lawmakers endorsing the impeachment complaint. This is the first time a vice president has faced such proceedings in the country's history.
The impeachment complaint includes allegations of conspiracy to assassinate Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., misuse of $10.3M in confidential funds, corruption, and failure to address Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
It will now undergo a thorough document-by-document review by Senate staff. The Senate, which will serve as the impeachment tribunal, must secure a two-thirds majority vote (16 of 24 senators) to convict and remove Duterte from office. Proceedings are expected to begin in June.
The Spin
Narrative A
The impeachment represents a necessary step to uphold constitutional accountability and address serious allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The overwhelming House support demonstrates the gravity of the charges, including threats against the president and misuse of public funds.
Narrative B
The impeachment is a politically motivated attack aimed at preventing Duterte from running for president in 2028. The timing of the vote, just before midterm elections, and the rushed process suggest this is more about political maneuvering than genuine accountability.
Metaculus Prediction
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