Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has appealed to the Supreme Court to annul her impeachment and halt the impending Senate trial. The House of Representatives, dominated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s allies, impeached Duterte on February 5 over accusations of plotting to assassinate the President and engaging in large-scale corruption. A conviction in the forthcoming Senate trial, scheduled after Congress resumes on June 2, could prevent Duterte from holding public office in the future.
Duterte's legal team filed the petition with the Supreme Court, a 15-member judicial body, on February 18. Her lawyers contended that the impeachment process was fundamentally flawed. They argued that it "was procedurally defective, constitutionally infirm and jurisdictionally void." Additionally, the impeachment complaint alleged that Duterte misused intelligence funds both as the Vice President and as the Education Secretary prior to her resignation from the latter role.
The impeachment complaint stemmed from statements Duterte made during a November 23 online news conference. She allegedly declared that she would have President Marcos, his wife, and cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if she herself were killed. Her alliance with President Marcos unraveled last year, adding another layer of complexity to the political landscape.
Her father, Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, also stirred controversy with his remarks during a campaign rally. He suggested that 15 senators should be eliminated to create more vacancies for his allies in the midterms. These statements led police to file criminal complaints against him. Meanwhile, Vice President Duterte's legal representatives described the impeachment as "political persecution," aimed at eliminating her as a potential candidate in the 2028 presidential elections.
The rapid progression of the impeachment complaint to the Senate has raised concerns among some House members. They expressed dissatisfaction over not having adequate time to thoroughly study the document before it was sent forward.
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