Philippine VP Sara Duterte impeached again, Senate trial now in doubt

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte was impeached anew by the House of Representatives on May 11, making her the first vice-president in the country's history to be impeached twice.



But her allies have moved swiftly to tighten their grip on the Senate ahead of a looming trial that could define her 2028 presidential ambitions.



The move comes a year after an earlier impeachment bid against Ms Duterte was voided by the Supreme Court on constitutional grounds linked to a procedural technicality. On May 11, lawmakers voted 257 to 25 to impeach Ms Duterte, with nine abstaining.



But impeachment does not automatically remove her from office. The case will now move to the Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court and decide whether to convict or acquit her.



Conviction requires the votes of two-thirds of senators, or 16 votes, while only nine votes are needed for an acquittal that would allow Ms Duterte to remain in office and preserve her eligibility to run for president in 2028. She declared her presidential bid in February.