Philippine Vice President Targeted by Second Impeachment Effort in Weeks
The political turmoil in the Philippines escalated on Wednesday, with a second impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Left-wing activists allege misuse of public funds and a pattern of threatening behavior.
This complaint, encompassing demands for permanent removal from office, centers on Duterte’s alleged misappropriation of roughly $10.3 million in "confidential funds." The activists, representing labor and human rights groups, emphasize a potential cover-up, claiming Duterte fabricated documentation and obstructed a congressional probe.
"The impeachment is the antidote to impunity," declared Renato Reyes, a representative from the left-wing political coalition Bayan. "Citizens and taxpayers need to hold public officials accountable.”
This latest move adds to the growing tension between Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Their previously strong alliance formed during the 2022 election has crumbled in recent months, leading to public accusations and highly publicized clashes between their families.
The political drama thickened last month when Duterte publicly threatened to assassinate Marcos should she be killed. While Duterte insists this was only meant as a contingency response to a potential assassination attempt on herself, the incident ignited national outrage and sparked an official investigation.
This threat, along with allegations of Duterte’s involvement in her father’s controversial drug war, which is currently under scrutiny by the International Criminal Court, forms a crucial part of a separate impeachment complaint filed on Monday by civil society and religious leaders.
The possibility of these impeachment cases veering into a protracted legal battle is high. The House of Representatives, dominated by allies of Marcos and his influential cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez objected to, is set to review the complaints. The potential for a trial in the Senate hangs in the balance and promises a major confrontation within Filipino politics.
