In a dramatic turn of events, the impeachment of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio has been initiated by an overwhelming majority in the Philippine House of Representatives. On Wednesday, the Articles of Impeachment were forwarded to the Senate for further consideration. Notably, 41 out of the 60 congressmen representing the southern Philippines, a region historically dominated by the Duterte dynasty, supported this move. The Philippines Centre for Investigative Journalism confirmed these figures, marking a significant shift in political dynamics in the nation.
The impeachment has sparked intense analysis, with many suggesting that President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and his allies have outmanoeuvred the Duterte family in their traditional stronghold. This shift indicates growing power for the Marcos family, despite President Marcos Jnr and Vice-President Duterte-Carpio having campaigned together as a unified ticket in the 2022 elections, achieving landslide victories. Historian Manolo Quezon described the impeachment as "political jujitsu," highlighting the strategic nature of this political maneuver.
This development has escalated an already bitter public feud between the Marcos and Duterte families. Vice-President Duterte-Carpio's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, held sway over the Davao region for more than three decades, making this political shift even more noteworthy. The impeachment proceedings have led to heightened tensions, with Vice-President Duterte-Carpio issuing public threats of assassination against her political adversaries.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr previously described the impeachment effort as an unnecessary distraction from government work, referring to it as a "storm in a teacup." Despite his dismissive remarks, the impeachment process continues to unfold, capturing national and international attention. Analysts view this as a significant sign of the Marcos family's rising influence and their ability to challenge established political dynasties.
Leave a Reply