HOR impeaches VP Sara

The impeachment complaint combines three earlier complaints filed since December 2024, which stalled with House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco for two months. The House approved the complaint on the last session day before the election period break, surpassing the required one-third vote threshold for impeachment. Duterte faces seven articles of impeachment, primarily accusing her of misusing confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education (DepEd), which she led until June 2024. She is also accused of bribery involving DepEd officials. Other charges against Duterte include alleged death threats directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez; her inaction regarding the Philippines' territorial claim over the West Philippine Sea; unexplained wealth and failure to disclose her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN); her alleged involvement in extra-judicial killings during her father Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency; and conduct deemed unbecoming of a public official. Notably, the first and last signatories of the impeachment documents were presidential son and Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos and House Speaker Romualdez, respectively. This development appears to contrast with President Marcos' earlier pronouncements that he did not support Duterte's impeachment. A week before the House's decision, on 31 January, nationwide indignation rallies were held, calling for the vice president’s impeachment, reflecting growing public discontent. A survey from Social Weather Stations (SWS) last December revealed 41% of Filipinos agree with Duterte’s impeachment, 35% disagree, while 19% of respondents are undecided on the matter. Following the House's decision, the impeachment case will now proceed to the Senate, which will act as the trial court. Senators will determine whether Duterte will be convicted and permanently barred from holding public office or acquitted. Duterte’s conviction is expected to face significant challenges in the upper chamber: only eight senators are needed to secure her acquittal, making the Senate trial a crucial battleground for both her supporters and critics. Until a verdict is reached, she will continue to serve as Vice President.