Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte faces criminal complaints and impeachment proceedings. This political scandal has rocked the nation, exposing deep rifts within the government. How has the relationship between Duterte and Marcos Jr. deteriorated?
Criminal Complaints and Political Fallout
The National Bureau of Investigation has filed criminal complaints, including sedition, against Vice President Sara Duterte. These charges stem from her public threat to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated if she were killed.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago stated, “Philippine government investigators filed criminal complaints, including sedition, against Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday over her public threat to have the president assassinated if she herself was killed in an escalating political storm.” This development has sent shockwaves through the Philippine political landscape.
Did Vice President Sara Duterte really threaten to assassinate President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.? Here is what she said after the House of Representatives impeached her, and what she said in November 2024. You be the judge.
Watch the full presscon here:… pic.twitter.com/kBGZ6xhYbo
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) February 7, 2025
Impeachment Proceedings and Political Tensions
The House of Representatives, largely aligned with President Marcos, has initiated impeachment proceedings against Sara Duterte. These actions cite allegations ranging from significant corruption to endangering key political figures.
The impeachment complaint was supported by a majority of the House, underscoring the depth of the political divide. The Senate plans to address the impeachment complaint after Congress reconvenes in June, setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown.
INSANE PRONOUNCEMENTS BY SARA DUTERTE.
Sara knows what she's doing. She's inciting her supporters to violently push back against the Marcos faction in case of her arrest or hurt. She seems to be playing her last cards, presumably because of the threat of ICC against her family. pic.twitter.com/ykWrTNV92p
— militant (@alasiye7e) November 22, 2024
Duterte’s Response and Future Implications
Sara Duterte has denied that her remarks constituted a threat but acknowledged preparing for a legal battle in the impeachment trial. She stated, “The vice president said at a news conference last week that her lawyers were preparing for a legal battle in her upcoming impeachment trial, but she refused to say if resignation was an option so that she could preempt a possible conviction that would bar her from running for president in the future.”
This political crisis raises questions about Duterte’s potential run for the presidency in 2028. She has accused political rivals of attempting to prevent her from running, further intensifying the already fraught political climate in the Philippines.
