The Philippine Senate convened as an impeachment court on May 18, 2026 [1], to try Vice President Sara Duterte on criminal charges.
The proceedings mark a critical escalation in the political tension between the country's two highest officials. A conviction would remove Duterte from office and potentially bar her from future public service.
Duterte is accused of making grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta‑Marcos, and a former member of the House of Representatives [3]. These allegations fall under Article IV of the Constitution [3].
During the process, the Senate chamber in Pasay City served as the venue for the trial [2]. The House prosecution panel has framed the proceedings as a necessary step for governance. "The impeachment trial is a test of accountability and public trust," a prosecutor from the House panel said [4].
President Marcos Jr. previously emphasized the necessity of the legislative process. "Get back to work," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said [4].
Defense attorneys for the Vice President have characterized the trial as a weaponized legal maneuver. They said the move is a politically driven bid to unseat an official elected by more than 32 million people [5].
While the court convened in May, reports indicate the trial continued into July, with proceedings reaching Day 3 on July 8, 2026 [6]. The outcome remains uncertain as the Senate remains divided over the charges.
“"The impeachment trial is a test of accountability and public trust,"”
The trial represents a formal rupture of the political alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families. By utilizing the constitutional impeachment process, the administration is attempting to legally neutralize a powerful political rival, while the defense is framing the trial as an assault on the democratic mandate of millions of voters.
