PALO, Leyte – The House of Representatives has formally impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, with 215 lawmakers endorsing the verified complaint.
The impeachment case has now been transmitted to the Senate, where an impeachment trial will take place.
Senate President Francis Escudero said the Senate will constitute itself as an impeachment court when the next session opens in June.
Articles of impeachment
The charges against Duterte include culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
The complaint outlines major accusations such as an alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, as well as the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds.
Other allegations include bribery and corruption within the Department of Education, unexplained wealth, involvement in extrajudicial killings linked to the Davao Death Squad, and destabilization efforts that could lead to insurrection and public disorder.
One of the prosecutors in the case is former Eastern Samar congressman and 4Ps Partylist Representative Marcelino Libanan.
How they voted
The lawmakers from Eastern Visayas who voted in favor of impeachment include Jude Acidre and Yedda Romualdez of Tingog Partylist, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of Leyte’s 1st District, Lolita Karen Javier of Leyte’s 2nd District, and Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon of Leyte’s 3rd District.
Additionally, Luz Mercado from Southern Leyte’s 1st District and Christopherson Yap from the province’s 2nd District also expressed their support.
Representing the Lone District of Biliran, Gerardo Espina Jr. aligned with the majority vote, while Northern Samar’s 1st District Representative Paul Daza and 2nd District Representative Harris Christopher Ongchuan did the same.
Lastly, Maria Fe Abunda, representing Eastern Samar’s Lone District, was among those who endorsed the impeachment complaint.
Meanwhile, 102 congressmen did not support the impeachment. Among them is Rep. Richard Gomez of the 4th district of Leyte.
What happens next?
Now that the House of Representatives has approved the impeachment, the Senate will conduct a full trial to determine whether Vice President Duterte will be removed from office.
To secure a conviction and removal, at least 16 senators (two-thirds of the Senate) must vote in favor of impeachment. The trial is expected to be one of the most controversial political events in recent history.
Political Implications
The impeachment process has sparked debates across the country. Supporters of Duterte argue that the charges are politically motivated, while critics insist that the allegations of corruption and abuse of power must be addressed.
It is also notable that former President Rodrigo Duterte, the father of the Vice President, was born in Maasin, Southern Leyte—a province within Eastern Visayas. This adds further political weight to the region’s role in the impeachment process.
As the Senate trial approaches, all eyes will be on whether the impeachment moves forward or if Vice President Duterte survives the charges. The decision could significantly impact the nation’s political landscape in the coming months.
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