MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has filed a motion with the Supreme Court on Tuesday seeking to nullify her impeachment and prevent a Senate trial that has the potential to remove her from office. This unprecedented move comes in response to a formal complaint lodged by the House of Representatives, which is controlled by allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on February 5, 2025.
The impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of various serious offenses, including allegedly plotting to assassinate President Marcos and engaging in extensive corruption. Following the resumption of Congress on June 2, the Senate was anticipated to transform into an impeachment court to deliberate on the charges against her. In her legal appeal, Duterte’s team argues that the impeachment process was not only procedurally flawed but also constitutionally invalid and lacking jurisdiction.
Lawyer Israelito Torreon, representing Duterte, remarked that the complaint was hastily forwarded to the Senate, making it difficult for some House members to understand its contents. He suggested that the impeachment could be part of a broader strategy to eliminate Duterte as a potential candidate in the upcoming 2028 presidential elections, labeling it as "political persecution."
Should she be convicted in the Senate trial, the repercussions would be significant, including a ban from holding any public office in the future. Central to the impeachment charges are remarks made by Duterte during a November 23 online news conference, in which she controversially suggested having the president, his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if she were to be killed amidst their growing political tensions. Despite the uproar, Duterte has firmly denied any intent to convey threats.
Additional allegations against her include misappropriating intelligence funds during her tenure as vice president and education secretary, prior to her resignation from the latter position amid deteriorating relations with Marcos. Thus far, Duterte has not offered a comprehensive defense regarding the accusations of graft and corruption that have surfaced against her.
Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, with whom she formed an alliance as his vice presidential running mate during the 2022 elections. However, this political collaboration unravelled swiftly. In recent public appearances, President Marcos has criticized the violent anti-drug campaign of his predecessor while refraining from naming the Dutertes, intensifying the apparent rift between them.
Compounding the political turmoil, former President Rodrigo Duterte recently suggested during a campaign rally that 15 senators should be killed to create vacancies for his allies, leading to the filing of criminal complaints against him in response to these unsettling comments.
