Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte impeached, with Senate trial ahead

ISTANBUL

At least 215 lawmakers voted Wednesday to impeach Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte, more than twice the number needed to send the motion to the Senate for trial, Rappler News reported.

Vice President Duterte, the daughter of controversial former President Rodrigo Duterte, was impeached after more than two-thirds of the members of parliament signed a petition to oust her.

Following the vote, the impeachment petition has been submitted to the Senate for a trial that could result in Duterte being barred from holding public office.

At least 102 lawmakers were needed to back the motion to impeach her.

Duterte has been accused of misusing funds when she led the country’s Education Department.

The petition comes amid a feud in which Duterte accused President Ferdinand Marcos Junior of wanting her dead, alleging that he sees her as the "biggest threat" to his hopes of reelection in 2028.

Marcos and Duterte were running mates in the 2022 elections, winning a six-year term together.

However, the alliance has been upended in recent months, leading Duterte to resign last June from Marcos' Cabinet, where she held the education portfolio.