Philippine Senate inaugurates impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

The Philippine Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, has officially opened the proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, marking the culmination of a turbulent political period characterised by leadership shifts and security incidents within the upper house. The trial commenced on Monday, presided over by the newly elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, who secured the position through the decisive vote of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

The appointment of Cayetano, a loyalist to the Duterte political family, was finalised on 11 May following the dramatic reappearance of Dela Rosa, who had been in hiding since reports emerged of an International Criminal Court warrant in November. Dela Rosa, who faces ICC accusations regarding his role in the former administration’s drug war, cast the deciding vote before encountering police officers attempting to detain him on the warrant. He subsequently fled into the Senate building and absconded following a military raid and reports of gunfire.

Vice President Duterte, 47, has been granted 10 days to respond to the charges, which allege the misuse of public funds, the accumulation of unexplained wealth, and threats against the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the First Lady, and a former House speaker. Duterte has denied all wrongdoing, describing the impeachment process as politically motivated. Her legal team has stated it will comply with court procedures but declined to offer further comment on the trial’s merits.

The proceedings unfold against a backdrop of significant political realignment. President Marcos and Vice President Duterte, who ran together in the 2022 election, have since experienced a major fallout that triggered congressional scrutiny of the Vice President’s finances. Marcos has sought to distance the executive branch from the impeachment, characterising it as a legislative matter, while former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara’s father, remains in ICC custody in The Hague facing confirmation of charges related to crimes against humanity.

Outside the Senate building, dozens of protesters gathered to voice their positions on the trial. Some demonstrators expressed support for Duterte, while others, including victims’ advocates, called for her conviction and the arrest of Dela Rosa. Protest leader Mong Palatino argued that the Senate’s new leadership would prioritise protecting the Duterte family’s interests, while Manette Castillo, the mother of a drug war victim, accused senators of shielding Duterte and helping Dela Rosa evade accountability.

The court has not yet scheduled a date for the commencement of trial hearings. The outcome of the proceedings could result in Vice President Duterte being barred from holding public office, potentially derailing her stated ambition to contest the presidential election in 2028.