The House of Representatives on Wednesday impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, with 215 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her.
The impeachment, fast-tracked by the endorsement of over one-third of the House, moves directly to the Senate for a trial, bypassing the typical committee discussions. This expedited process was made possible under the 1987 Constitution, which allows a petition to proceed immediately if endorsed by at least a third of the House members.
The vote came on the final day of the House session before Congress adjourns for the election season.
House secretary-general Reginald Velasco had confirmed earlier that a fourth impeachment complaint would be filed, backed by 153 lawmakers.
Previous complaints against Duterte stemmed from allegations she misused public funds and made threats against political leaders, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte has denied all charges, claiming they are part of a political vendetta.
One of the key allegations is related to the misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and, previously, the Department of Education. During investigations, the House committee discovered suspicious signatures on receipts for these funds. The Philippine Statistics Authority later reported that the names associated with some of these signatures did not appear in official records.
If convicted in the Senate, Duterte could face removal and disqualification from public office. She would become the first vice president in Philippine history to be impeached. For now, she remains in office until the Senate completes its trial.
