Philippine Senate Grants Sara Duterte Deadline to Respond to Impeachment Charges

The Philippine Senate has extended the deadline until Monday, 1 June, for Vice President Sara Duterte to respond to the impeachment articles against her, according to local media reports. The 10-day deadline for Duterte to submit her formal response to the Senate is set to expire, as reported by the English-language daily Manila Times on Sunday. In a statement, Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales said Duterte ‘may submit her response personally, through a lawyer, or via email.’ The impeachment articles against Duterte include four main charges: misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and corruption, and public threats. The Philippine House of Representatives impeached Duterte for the second time in two years earlier this month. The impeachment case is now with the Senate, which will decide on her guilt or acquittal. Despite the allegations, the 47-year-old Duterte is currently considered a favourite candidate for the 2028 presidential election.