An alliance of civil society groups in the Philippines is set to file an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, according to the parliamentary group Akbayan party-list. Akbayan stated that its lawmaker would endorse the complaint, marking a significant move in the nation’s political arena.
Vice President Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She is currently the subject of a house inquiry into her spending, allegations she firmly denies.
In a statement, Akbayan described the impending impeachment complaint as “historic,” noting that it would be submitted to the lower house by a diverse coalition of civil society organizations, religious leaders, sectoral representatives, and families of victims of her father’s war on drugs, under which thousands were killed.
While the exact grounds for the impeachment were not elaborated upon, the move signifies escalating tensions within the highest ranks of Philippine politics. Vice President Duterte was not immediately available for comment.
This development is the latest twist in a high-profile conflict involving three of the country’s top officials, following the collapse of a powerful alliance between their families that had led to President Marcos Jr’s landslide victory in the 2022 election.
Recently, Sara Duterte reportedly stated that she had contracted someone to kill President Marcos, his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez—the president’s cousin—should she herself be assassinated. She later clarified that her remarks were taken out of context.
President Marcos, addressing the situation on Friday, expressed that any impeachment complaint against his vice president would only serve as a distraction for Congress and not aid the populace. His remarks have drawn criticism from some lawmakers who view the ongoing feud as detrimental to governance.
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Philippine groups to seek impeachment of Vice President Duterte
cgtn.com
