This Vice President Is Set to Be Impeached, Having Once Claimed She Was Willing to Kill the President
Political future of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte hangs in the balance after a committee in Congress on Wednesday (4 March 2026) overwhelmingly approved sending impeachment articles to lawmakers for a vote. The move opens the door to a possible Senate trial that could determine whether the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte will remain on the national political stage or be barred from holding public office for life.
Sara Duterte, who in February announced her bid for the 2028 presidential election, had in fact been impeached last year. But the Philippine Supreme Court dismissed the case on procedural grounds.
Under the Philippine Constitution, impeachment by the House of Representatives triggers a Senate trial. If found guilty, the accused will be barred from holding elective office for life.
In the latest development, the committee declared new complaints against Duterte to be ‘sufficient in substance’ by a 54-1 vote. The charges include corruption and abuse of power during her tenure, as well as threats to kill a former ally who is now the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
‘Today’s vote is not a verdict of guilt or punishment. It is simply a decision whether the constitutional process should continue,’ said Congressman Ferdinand Hernandez minutes before the vote, quoted by AFP.
Analysts warn that Duterte’s presidential bid announcement will be a key factor for lawmakers who must weigh the political implications of their decision, particularly if the figure they face could run again and even hold the highest office in the country.
The alleged threats against President Marcos stemmed from a late-night press conference, when Duterte claimed to have hired a hitman to kill the president and his family if he were to be removed first. Although he later said his words had been misinterpreted, several lawmakers viewed the remark as dangerous.
‘They carry weight. They create fear,’ said Congressman Gerville Luistro, referring to the alleged threats and their potential impact on the stability of the state’s institutions.
The Duterte-Marcos relationship had already evolved into a high-stakes political contest. The tension emerged just weeks after their 2022 victory in the presidential election, when Duterte did not get the cabinet portfolio she wanted and was instead appointed as Education Secretary.
Meanwhile, congressional dynamics also show a pattern of intra-chamber attacks. Last month, the Judiciary Committee dropped two impeachment complaints against President Marcos, finding the corruption allegations related to a fictitious flood-control project lacked substance.