In a significant political shift, the Philippine House of Representatives on Monday secured the required number of votes to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte. The decision moves the proceedings to the Senate, where a trial will determine her political future.
The plenary vote saw an overwhelming majority in favor of the impeachment, with 255 lawmakers voting yes, 26 voting against, and nine abstaining. This result easily surpassed the constitutional threshold of at least one-third of the House, or 106 votes, necessary to move the case forward.
The articles of impeachment outline a series of grave allegations against the Vice President, including charges of corruption, assassination plots, inciting sedition, and recurring patterns of abuse. These documents will now be transmitted to the Senate for a formal trial.
Under the Philippine Constitution, the Senate holds the sole authority to try and decide impeachment cases. The stakes are high: if more than two-thirds of the senators vote to convict, Vice President Duterte will be removed from office and permanently barred from holding any public office for life.
The developments come at a critical juncture for the Vice President, who had announced her intention to run for the presidency in 2028 this past February. Her political ambitions now face a substantial hurdle as the judicial process unfolds.
Vice President Duterte was absent during the plenary vote. Reports indicate that the Philippine Office of the President had approved her application for an overseas trip spanning from May 2 to May 15. During this period, she traveled to The Hague, Netherlands, where she visited her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently in detention at the International Criminal Court.
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Philippine House plenary approves VP Sara Duterte's impeachment
cgtn.com
