Philippines' democracy tested by Duterte impeachment trial
Vice President Sara Duterte faces impeachment in a trial that could shape the 2028 presidential race and test public trust in the country's democratic institutions
Vice President Sara Duterte faces impeachment in a trial that could shape the 2028 presidential race and test public trust in the country's democratic institutions. Impeachment proceedings against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte over allegations that include corruption and threats to assassinate President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. began Monday. The start of the trial, which is set to run for 92 days, saw clashes between police, Duterte supporters and protesters calling for her removal. The Senate trial comes after the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, overwhelmingly approved the impeachment charges against Duterte. The chamber, which is dominated by allies of Marcos Jr., voted in May to impeach Duterte by 257 votes to 25, with nine abstentions. The impeachment articles refer to alleged misappropriation of public funds, unexplained assets and bribing public officials. They also cover an alleged death threat against her former ally, Marcos Jr. Duterte, who did not attend the proceedings in person, denies the charges. Her defense lawyer argued on Monday that the impeachment case is politically motivated. "Philippine democracy is also on trial here.
The public will want to be assured that the proceedings are completed and legitimate," Jean Franco, a professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines, told DW. Protesters and police clashed on the first day of Duterte's impeachment trial Image: Ted Aljibe/AFP Family feud "Philippine politics is dominated by political families rather than political parties. We don't have stable parties — we have coalitions," Franco added. Duterte's political career has seen her serve as Davao City mayor, after succeeding her father, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, before becoming Vice President in 2022 as the running mate of Marcos Jr, the son of the dictator who was ousted after a bloodless revolution in 1986. But relations between Duterte and Marcos Jr. have since deteriorated dramatically, sparking a feud between the country's two most influential political dynasties. Duterte accuses the Philippine president of colluding with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to facilitate her father's arrest to face charges over the deadly anti-drugs crackdown during his term in office from 2016 to 2022. In February, Duterte formally announced her bid for the 2028 presidency.
Despite the ongoing controversy, she remains popular among voters. A survey in March indicated that 51% of those polled said they would vote for Duterte if presidential elections were held today. "The public will be closely watching the evidence and the proceedings. Even if Sara is not convicted, her allies will ensure that that process is not damaging to her presidential aspirations," said Franco. "Ultimately, regardless of the final verdict, this will test the political capital and strength of the Dutertes," Dino de Leon, a human rights lawyer, told DW. Major protests over corruption scandal in Philippines To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Young voters 'disappointed, dismayed and ignored' The impeachment proceedings follow weeks of political turmoil in the Senate. The saga, which netizens dubbed as #SenateFlix, included a shootout and Senator and former police chief Ronald dela Rosa escaped an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the former Duterte administration's anti-drug campaign. For many young Filipinos, the impeachment is a pivotal moment that could determine the fate of the vice president and the credibility of the country's democratic institutions.
The BriefWire