Metro Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives impeached Sara Duterte on Monday, May 11, making her the first vice president in Philippine history to be impeached and the first to go through it twice in two separate Congresses.
A big majority of 257 lawmakers were in favor of impeaching Duterte, 25 were against, and 9 abstained.
The presiding officer initially announced in plenary that 255 out of 318 lawmakers voted yes, while 26 opposed. Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez issued the correction before the session adjourned.
The House only needs 106 votes to impeach the vice president.
The Articles of Impeachment recommended two penalties: removal from public office and perpetual disqualification from holding any government position.
The House accused Duterte of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, and high crimes.
In particular, she supposedly mismanaged at least ₱612.5 million in confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, has unexplained wealth, bribed procurement officials, and plotted an assasination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
READ: Breaking down the proposed Articles of Impeachment vs. Duterte
Duterte was first impeached in 2025 for the same grounds. However, the Supreme Court declared it void and unconstitutional for violating the one-year bar rule, the provision that prohibits simultaneous impeachment proceedings against a high ranking official in one year. The Senate trial did not proceed in light of the SC ruling.
The Articles of Impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate, which will convene as the Impeachment Court.
Duterte skipped all the impeachment hearings at the House, and instead chose to issue statements. Her defense team had maintained they would rather face the Senate.
‘Not threatened by the Senate coup’
Now that Duterte has been impeached, a number of lawmakers who backed the decision said the Senate trial should commence immediately amid the sudden leadership change at the upper chamber.
Alan Peter Cayetano replaced Vicente Sotto III as Senate president ahead of the impeachment vote at the House on Monday, May 11. Sotto previously said he wanted to convene the Impeachment Court once the Senate receives the Articles of Impeachment.
“Hindi tayo dapat matinag sa nangyaring Senate coup…simulan na ang paglilitis, convict Sara now,” Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña said.
[Translation: We shouldn’t be threatened by the Senate coup…Start the trial, convict Sara now]
Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila De Lima, who endorsed one of the complaints against Duterte, said the public will judge senators on how they will act on the impeachment case.
“People are watching. Mulat at tayang-taya na ang taumbayan. Hindi sila magwawalang-kibo lamang,” she said.
[Translation: People are watching. The public is fully awake and paying close attention. They will not simply remain silent.]
Even Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco – who used to have reservations on impeachment – voted for impeachment.
Tiangco admitted it was difficult to support the case, but he ended up doing so in pursuit of accountability.
“Hindi tamang isipin ko yung na porke yung malaking corruption dito sa House ay wala pang nakukulong na e ipagpaliban muna o huwag ding iyong maliit na akusasyon sa doon vice president, kung accountability iyan maliit o malaki dapat accountability,” he stated.
[Translation: It’s not right to think that just because no one has been jailed yet for the large-scale corruption in the House, we should postpone or ignore the smaller accusations against the vice president. If it’s about accountability, whether big or small, there should still be accountability.]
Tiangco added that he cannot accept Duterte’s non-declaration of cash on hand and deposits in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth, as disclosed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
No votes
Meanwhile, some lawmakers who voted against the impeachment cited the supposed preference of their constituents.
“The will of my constituents is clear, for the city of Cebu 1st district during the 19th congress, it was a no and for the 20th Congress it still remains a no,” Cebu 1st district Rep. Rachel del Mar said.
Sagip Rep. Paolo Marcoleta, a staunch critic of the Duterte impeachment, hit the committee deliberations and explained that his vote is not against accountability.
“This is a vote for constitutional discipline… It cannot rest on shortcuts, spectacle or evidence gathered through a process that looks less like a constitutional proceeding and more like a fishing expedition,” he said.
In her sponsorship speech, justice panel chairperson Jinky Luistro said the impeachment process does not demean Duterte supporters – but rather conveyed that accountability exempts no one.
‘Ready to defend’
In a statement, Duterte’s defense team said they are ready to face the Senate once trial begins.
The vice president’s lawyers noted the “burden now rests on the accusers to substantiate their claims in accordance with the Constitution, the law, and rules on evidence.”
“While questions of constitutional significance remain pending before the Supreme Court, we are fully prepared to defend the Vice President before the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court, where it is incumbent upon the prosecution to discharge the burden of proof,” they said.
Duterte challenged the legality of the proceedings with the SC, citing supposed constitutional flaws.
