Sara Duterte Impeached for Second Time Over Graft Charges
Sara Duterte impeachment 2026 Philippines
The Philippine House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Monday, May 11, 2026, to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte for the second time in fifteen months. Lawmakers secured 257 affirmative votes to transmit the formal articles of impeachment to the Senate for a criminal trial.
This historic vote far exceeded the constitutional threshold of 106 votes required to move the proceedings forward. The Vice President faced 25 negative votes and nine abstentions during the high-stakes plenary session in Quezon City. The decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political feud between the Duterte family and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
The articles of impeachment detail four primary charges including the systematic misuse of public funds and unexplained wealth. Prosecutors allege that Duterte misappropriated over 612 million pesos in confidential funds during her tenure at the Department of Education. The documents also cite significant discrepancies in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
Investigators claim her personal wealth grew from 7 million pesos to over 88 million pesos without a clear legal source. Additionally, the House included charges of bribery involving cash payments to senior education officials. These financial allegations have severely impacted her standing as a leading hopeful for the 2028 presidential election.
A central component of the impeachment involves grave threats and inciting to sedition tied to public statements made in late 2024. The House Committee on Justice highlighted a recorded press conference where Duterte allegedly discussed hiring an assassin to target the President and First Lady.
While her legal team argues the comments were misinterpreted, the Department of Justice maintains the rhetoric posed a direct threat to national security. The Senate is now expected to convene as an impeachment court to determine her fate. A conviction would result in her permanent removal from office and a lifetime ban from holding any elective position in the Philippines.
