Congress members passed the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte by a vote of 255-26 on May 11. This marked the second time Duterte was impeached on charges of betrayal of public trust, corruption, bribery, and grave threats.
The impeachment passed despite threats from the Duterte bloc, through the PDP Laban party, against lawmakers who would support it.
Lawmakers are expected to immediately transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate so the trial of the cases can begin. Duterte needs to be impeached by 16 senators for final ouster from office and lifetime disqualification from any government position.
Concurrent with the vote, progressive groups under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) protested outside Congress. They demanded Duterte’s accountability for squandering public funds.
“Today is…a victory for the people long robbed of funds for education and health that went only to questionable confidential funds,” Bayan secretary general Raymond Palatino declared. “Impeachment alone is not enough. We need justice. She must face court for the billions in unexplained funds and her threats to national security.”
Protesters said they will closely watch the Senate trial and warned against any possible “settlement.”
Senate coup
Amid the House vote, pro-Duterte senators ousted Sen. Tito Sotto as Senate president and replaced him with Sen. Peter Cayetano. By a vote of 13-10, senators installed Cayetano, a former Duterte official and staunch follower of the Duterte family.
A key vote in the leadership change came from the surprise attendance of Sen. Bato de la Rosa at the Senate session. He had hidden for nearly six months and skipped sessions fearing arrest and extradition to The Netherlands to face the International Criminal Court. As he entered the Senate, National Bureau of Investigation agents chased him to serve a subpoena.
Dela Rosa’s presence served as the “deciding vote” to form the majority needed for the coup. The Senate immediately placed him under protective custody to ensure he avoids arrest while his legal issues continue.
