Vice President of Neighbouring Indonesia Faces Impeachment, Fate to be Decided Today

The most intense political battle in the Philippines has entered a new phase as the nation’s Senate is scheduled to sit as an impeachment court on Monday (18/05/2026) to decide the fate of Vice President Sara Duterte. The trial is viewed not merely as a legal process, but as a major confrontation between the two most influential political dynasties in the Philippines, which could determine the direction of the 2028 presidential election.

The impeachment trial represents the greatest gamble in Sara Duterte’s political career. If found guilty, she could be removed from office and barred from holding public positions, which would effectively destroy her chances of running in the 2028 presidential election. Conversely, if she survives the trial, Duterte could emerge as a stronger political figure and remain a leading candidate to replace her primary rival, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election.

This historic trial takes place amidst increasing political instability in the Philippines, occurring just days after unrest and gunfire broke out in the upper house of Parliament. The chaos was triggered by the reappearance of a pro-Duterte senator who had previously been in hiding while being pursued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

As members of Parliament prepared to vote on Sara Duterte’s impeachment in the lower house on 11 May, politician Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa suddenly reappeared to cast a crucial vote in the Senate. This vote was decisive in the election of Duterte loyalist Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President. This position is highly strategic, as it automatically places Cayetano in charge of presiding over the impeachment proceedings.

Duterte now faces the greatest political test of her career. The 47-year-scale official faces allegations of misappropriating public funds, accumulating unexplained wealth, and making threats against the lives of President Marcos, the First Lady, and the former Speaker of the House. Sara Duterte has denied all such allegations.

There is currently no certainty as to when the trial will officially commence. President Marcos himself has attempted to maintain distance from the process, describing the impeachment as a legislative matter.

The relationship between Marcos and Duterte was once the most powerful political alliance in the Philippines. Both hail from prominent political families and campaigned together in the 2022 election. However, fractures appeared shortly after their victory. Their relationship has since devolved into a fierce feud, culminating in the Marcos administration’s decision to hand over former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara’s father, to the ICC.

Rodrigo Duterte is currently awaiting trial at the ICC regarding the drug war that resulted in thousands of deaths during his leadership. Several analysts believe that the change in Senate leadership following the return of dela Rosa could shift the balance of power in the legislative chamber. Of the 24 senators acting as jurors in the impeachment trial, some are known to have close ties or loyalty to the Duterte family. A guilty verdict requires the support of two-thirds of the Senate members.

‘With the new majority now formed thanks to Senator Bato’s efforts, the prosecution process against Vice President Sara in the impeachment court becomes slightly more difficult,’ said Ederson Tapia, a professor of public administration at Makati University, as reported by Reuters.

The reappearance of dela Rosa after six months in hiding has created political drama that has captivated the Philippine public. The former police chief had taken refuge for several days in the Senate building, which was heavily guarded by security forces. The situation turned chaotic following warnings that he was about to be arrested; unrest broke out, including reports of gunfire, before dela Rosa managed to escape a few hours later.

As a former key implementer of Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war operations, the 64-year-old dela Rosa is accused of crimes against humanity. The Marcos administration confirmed last Friday that they would seek his arrest. As of now, dela Rosa’s whereabouts remain unknown. He has denied any wrongdoing and has petitioned the Supreme Court of the Philippines to block his arrest, arguing there is no legal basis to execute warrants issued by a foreign court. However, this argument was rejected by the Solicitor-General, the highest legal officer of the Philippine government.