The political feud between Sara Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken another dramatic turn after the Philippine House of Representatives voted for a second time to impeach the vice-president, setting the stage for a high-stakes Senate trial that could reshape the country’s political future.
The impeachment vote, held on Monday, marks a major escalation in the bitter fallout between two of the Philippines’ most powerful political dynasties. If convicted by the Senate, Duterte would be removed from office and barred from holding public office in the future, effectively crushing her widely expected presidential bid in 2028.
The 47-year-old daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte remains one of the country’s most influential political figures despite the growing controversy surrounding her office.
House Votes Overwhelmingly for Impeachment
According to lawmakers, 255 out of 290 representatives present voted in favour of impeaching Duterte, far surpassing the one-third threshold required to move the process to the Senate for trial.
The impeachment complaint is centred on allegations that Duterte misused public funds and issued threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
This marks the second impeachment attempt against the vice-president. In 2025, Duterte was impeached on similar grounds, but the country’s Supreme Court blocked the process due to procedural and technical issues before the Senate could begin hearings.
This year, however, lawmakers revived the case. A House committee reviewing the evidence concluded last week that sufficient grounds existed to proceed with impeachment.
Duterte has dismissed the accusations and refused to participate in congressional hearings, arguing that the process was politically motivated and intended to weaken her ahead of the next presidential election.
In a formal written response, she described the impeachment complaint as “nothing more than a scrap of paper.”
Following Monday’s vote, her legal team maintained that the allegations remain unproven.
“The burden now rests on the accusers to substantiate their claims in accordance with the law,” her defence counsel said in a statement.
A Former Alliance Turns Into Open Warfare
The latest impeachment drama reflects the complete collapse of the once-powerful alliance between Marcos and Duterte that swept the 2022 elections.
At the time, Duterte was considered the favourite to succeed her father as president. Instead, she joined forces with Marcos and agreed to run for vice-president, creating a formidable coalition that delivered a landslide victory.
The alliance united two deeply influential political families and was seen as an unstoppable force in Philippine politics.
However, tensions began surfacing soon after they assumed office as disagreements over policy, influence and succession politics intensified behind the scenes.
The conflict worsened when lawmakers allied to Marcos launched investigations into Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential government funds.
Public attention intensified further after Duterte made explosive remarks during an online late-night press conference.
She claimed she had instructed an unnamed individual that if she were killed, they should target President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Romualdez.
The comments shocked the country and became one of the key elements cited in impeachment proceedings.
Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC Case Adds Pressure
Political tensions between the two camps escalated even further after the Marcos administration allowed the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court.
International Criminal Court is currently handling allegations linked to Duterte’s deadly anti-drug campaign, which drew international condemnation during his presidency.
Rodrigo Duterte is currently detained in The Hague awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity related to the deaths of hundreds during the so-called war on drugs.
Many observers believe Marcos’ decision to cooperate with the ICC deeply damaged relations between the two political families and accelerated the political split.
Senate Trial Could Decide Duterte’s Future
Although Duterte suffered a major setback in the House, analysts say the outcome in the Senate remains uncertain.
Unlike House members who are elected by districts and often align closely with the sitting president, senators are elected nationally and frequently position themselves strategically for future presidential campaigns.
This dynamic makes the Senate far less predictable.
The Philippines’ multi-party political structure is also known for rapidly shifting alliances, making it difficult to determine how senators may eventually vote.
Interestingly, candidates aligned with Duterte reportedly performed better than Marcos-backed politicians during the 2025 midterm elections, suggesting that the vice-president still commands substantial national support.
That support could become crucial if senators begin weighing political survival against loyalty to the Marcos administration.
Duterte Still Leads Early 2028 Polls
Despite the impeachment controversy, Duterte remains a strong contender for the presidency.
She formally announced her intention to run for president in February, years ahead of the 2028 election.
Under the Philippine constitution, Marcos cannot seek re-election because presidents are limited to a single six-year term.
A March survey by Manila-based pollster WR Numero showed Duterte leading the potential presidential race by 17 points over her closest rival.
Political analysts say the impeachment process could either weaken her political image or strengthen her support among loyalists who view her as a victim of political persecution.
As the impeachment battle moves to the Senate, the Philippines now faces a politically explosive period that could redefine the balance of power in the country for years to come.