Philippine House Impeaches Vice President Sara Duterte in 257-25 Vote

The Philippine House of Representatives voted 257-25 on May 11, 2026, to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, transmitting articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial. The charges center on the alleged misuse of 612.5 million pesos in confidential funds, unexplained wealth of 6.77 billion pesos, bribery involving Department of Education officials, and threats to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The impeachment drive accelerated rapidly through May 10 and 11. The House Committee on Justice, chaired by Gerville Luistro, unanimously found probable cause and approved the articles. House leadership projected confidence throughout, with Deputy Speaker Albee Benitez predicting approximately 200 votes; the final tally of 257 far exceeded the constitutional threshold of 106. Nine lawmakers abstained. Duterte denied the allegations and declined to attend the hearings, with her legal team calling the petition a fishing expedition.

The Senate prepared to receive the case immediately. On the same day as the vote, the Senate elected Alan Peter Cayetano as its new president, replacing Vicente Sotto III. Cayetano stated the Senate would act on the impeachment forthwith. The articles were formally transmitted to the Senate on May 13 by House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil, though the process drew criticism from Senator Imee Marcos, who dismissed the House's delay in reproducing documents as flimsy. Garafil defended the timeline, citing accuracy and compliance with Supreme Court guidelines established after a 2025 impeachment attempt was nullified.

A conviction by the Senate would remove Duterte from office and permanently disqualify her from public service, potentially blocking a 2028 presidential bid. The proceedings unfold amid a bitter political feud between Duterte and President Marcos Jr., and while her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, awaits trial at the International Criminal Court.