Philippine lawmakers advance impeachment of Vice President Duterte

Philippine lawmakers ordered Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday to respond to impeachment complaints against her after finding substance to allegations involving unexplained wealth, the misuse of public funds and making public threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.



The daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte is seen as a frontrunner for the 2028 presidential elections, and has said she will run for the top post. She survived a similar impeachment bid last year, which the Supreme Court struck down for violating constitutional safeguards.



If convicted by the Senate at trial, Duterte would be removed from office and disqualified from holding any future government position.



Wednesday's vote in the House of Representatives' justice committee comes amid a bitter falling out between the two leaders, both scions of powerful political families, who swept to power in 2022 before becoming rivals.



Before any vote on whether an impeachment trial should go ahead, the House will consider Duterte's response to the charges, if she makes one, as well as any reply from the complainants.



The complaints against Duterte include the misuse of confidential funds, bribery and unexplained wealth, and publicly threatening to have Marcos killed, along with his wife and a cousin who was House speaker at the time.