Impeachment complaint filed against Philippine VP Sara Duterte over death threats
An impeachment complaint was filed on Monday, December 2, 2024, against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, who is embroiled in a series of legal issues.
The complaint, lodged by several prominent opponents and activists in the House of Representatives, accuses Duterte of constitutional violations, massive corruption, and other "high crimes," including death threats she allegedly made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The complaint claims that Duterte's threats reflect her "mental incapacity" and lack of fitness to hold the office of Vice President. It argues that her actions not only betray public trust but also constitute a "high crime" that warrants her immediate impeachment.
"The Vice President has reduced public office to a platform for violent rhetoric, personal enrichment, elitist entitlement, and a shield for impunity," Teresita Quintos Deles, one of the complainants, said in a statement.
Duterte, a 46-year-old lawyer, is also accused of accumulating unexplained wealth and facilitating extrajudicial killings during her tenure as mayor of Davao City, which was previously led by her father, Rodrigo Duterte.
On November 23, 2024, she made an online statement in which she appeared to threaten the lives of Marcos, his wife, and Speaker Romualdez, saying she had contracted an assassin to kill them if she were killed. She later attempted to clarify that she was merely expressing concern for her safety and not threatening them.
The impeachment complaint will now undergo scrutiny in the Philippine Congress, which is controlled by Marcos' allies. The process is expected to take weeks or even months, with Congress scheduled to begin its Christmas recess on December 20, resuming on January 13, 2025. Many legislators will soon be preoccupied with campaigning for the May 12 midterm elections.
Duterte is also facing an investigation into the alleged misuse of 612.5 million pesos ($10.3 million) in confidential and intelligence funds allocated to her offices as Vice President and Education Secretary (a post she has since vacated).
Despite the impeachment proceedings, President Marcos has downplayed the matter, stating that an impeachment would be a waste of time, given the country’s other pressing issues. However, Duterte’s opponents argue that the process is necessary to ensure accountability and uphold the rule of law.
