Philippines lawmakers move to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Philippines parliament gathered on Wednesday to vote on a motion to impeach Sara Duterte, the nation’s vice president.

Duterte, the daughter of controversial former President Rodrigo Duterte, is facing impeachment after members of parliament signed a petition to oust her.

According to Rappler News, efforts to impeach Duterte in the House of Representatives, or Philippines Congress, have “secured the support of almost twice the number of lawmakers needed.”

At least 102 lawmakers are needed to back the motion for the impeachment motion to succeed.

If passed, the motion will be sent to Senate for trial of Duterte, who is facing a congressional hearing on her alleged misuse of funds when she led the country’s Education Department.

The petition comes amid a feud in which Duterte accused President Ferdinand Marcos Junior of wanting her dead, alleging that he sees her as the "biggest threat" to his hopes of reelection in 2028.

Marcos and Duterte were running mates in the 2022 elections, winning a six-year term together.

However, the alliance has been upended in recent months, leading Duterte to resign last June from Marcos' Cabinet, where she held the education portfolio.