Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte faced a new round of impeachment complaints on Monday, renewing a political fight that failed to remove her from office last year and adding fresh tension to the country’s already fractured leadership.
The complaints were filed by civil society organizations and left leaning activist groups, who accused Duterte of corruption, misuse of public funds, and betraying public trust. The move comes as Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is widely regarded as a leading contender in the 2028 presidential election.
The filing underscores the deepening rift at the top of Philippine politics, where Duterte remains locked in an increasingly bitter rivalry with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, her former ally. Marcos is barred by the constitution from seeking another term but is expected to back a successor, raising the political stakes of any attempt to weaken Duterte ahead of the next election cycle.
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The new complaints largely mirror accusations raised last year, which the Supreme Court dismissed after ruling that the impeachment effort violated constitutional safeguards. This time, however, complainants argue they have met stricter procedural requirements imposed by the court.
The allegations include claims that Duterte misused public funds, accepted bribes tied to government contracts, ignored congressional inquiries, and made threats against President Marcos, the first lady, and a former House speaker who is also the president’s cousin.
One of the complaints stated that the constitution “does not permit such cynical disregard for public trust,” accusing the vice president of treating state funds as a personal resource while blocking oversight by lawmakers.
Responding to the latest challenge, Duterte’s legal team said the new impeachment bid was expected.
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Her lawyer, Michael Poa, said in a statement that they were ready to address the accusations through established legal channels. He said the vice president would confront the allegations “squarely through the proper constitutional processes.”
President Marcos is himself facing a separate impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives, adding another layer of complexity to the political standoff.
Asked to respond to the new filing against Duterte, the presidential communications office said the issue rested with lawmakers.
The statement said the administration respects due process and the rule of law, adding that the president supports efforts to address corruption and believes the public deserves transparency.
Unlike last year, the new impeachment push must pass additional procedural hurdles set by the Supreme Court. Any case that advances would ultimately be tried in the Senate, where members act as jurors.
Recent midterm elections strengthened Duterte’s bloc in the Senate, potentially complicating efforts to secure the votes needed to remove her from office.
