TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - More than 6,000 police officers were deployed around the Philippines' Senate on Monday as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte got underway, with protests by both supporters and detractors taking place near the building.
The trial, which will reportedly last for 92 days, comes against the background of a growing feud between the two most influential political dynasties in the Philippines, the Dutertes and the Marcoses.
It marks the first time a vice president of the Philippines has faced a Senate impeachment court.
What Charges Is Sara Duterte Facing?
Last month, the House of Representatives, dominated by allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., voted overwhelmingly to impeach the vice president.
Duterte, 48, is accused of misusing state funds and amassing unexplained wealth.
She also faces allegations linked to public threats made against Marcos, his wife and a key political ally.
The accusation are based on statements Duterte made during a livestream in November 2024, when she suggested that someone should kill President Marcos if she herself were assassinated.
During Monday's opening session, prosecutors focused primarily on the corruption allegations.
"If ordinary Filipinos are held to account, why not the most powerful government official? That is why the trial is important" said Congresswomen Gerville Luistro, presenting the prosecution's opening argument.
Duterte has denied all wrongdoing. She did not appear in the Senate on Monday, but her defense lawyer argued that the impeachment case was politically motivated.
Marcos-Duterte Family Feud
The trial is unfolding against the backdrop of an increasingly bitter feud between the Marcoses and the Dutertes.
Marcos and Duterte swept to victory together in the 2022 elections, but relations have since deteriorated sharply.
Sara Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC) linked to his deadly anti-drug campaign during his term in office from 2016 to 2022.
She has accused Marcos of colluding with the ICC to facilitate her father's arrest.
In February 2026, she announced she would be running for president in 2028. Marcos is constitutionally barred from seeking another six-year term but is expected to back an ally in the race.
A poll published in May showed Duterte as the clear front-runner.
Sara Duterte's Political Future on the Line
The impeachment trial could determine whether Duterte stays a viable presidential contender.
If convicted, she could be permanently barred from holding public office. A two-thirds majority in the 24-member Senate — 16 votes — is required for conviction.
In the run-up to the trial, two key Duterte allies were arrested on corruption-related charges. One of them, Senator Rodante Marcoleta, was detained just hours before Monday's proceedings began.
Analysts say the trial, already highly politicized, will test the strength of the Philippines' political institutions.
Even if Duterte is acquitted, the proceedings could damage her political standing ahead of the 2028 election.
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