The House of Representatives Impeaches Vice President Sara Duterte
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, 2025, following a vote where 215 members supported the impeachment. This surpassed the 102 signatures needed to bring the case to the Senate for trial, as the House has a total membership of 306. The fourth impeachment complaint was spearheaded by Sandro Marcos, the Senior Deputy Majority Leader and son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Rep. Paolo Duterte, Sara’s brother, expressed outrage over the impeachment, accusing certain lawmakers, led by Rep. Janette Garin, of pushing the case for political reasons. He warned that the administration was dangerously undermining democracy and that Duterte’s supporters would not stand by while the government silenced opposition. Paolo emphasized that the impeachment would not end well for those involved.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously advised lawmakers against pursuing the impeachment, arguing that it would have no real impact on the Filipino people and would only waste time. Senate President Chiz Escudero also denied claims that the Senate was planning its own impeachment efforts, calling the statements unauthorized.
The impeachment came after allegations of financial mismanagement, particularly concerning the misuse of P775 million in confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). Duterte’s refusal to clarify these expenses during a budget hearing in August 2024 sparked further controversy. Matters escalated when her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, was detained for contempt by the House of Representatives, leading Duterte to make provocative remarks in a November press conference.
In December 2024, three separate impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte by civil society groups, religious organizations, and former lawmakers. These complaints were endorsed by various political groups and activists.
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