Vice President Sara Duterte faces impeachment trial in the Philippines

The Philippine Senate is conducting an impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte‑Carpio. Prosecutors allege she issued grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta‑Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, and may have been involved in a plot to hire an assassin, along with accusations of unexplained wealth, bribery and misuse of confidential funds.

Duterte’s defense team argues the statements do not satisfy the constitutional definition of “other high crimes,” cross‑examining NBI witness John Mark Calilung and emphasizing the lack of evidence that she contracted an assassin.

The vice president has remained defiant, saying she will be “bloodied but unbowed,” while her brother, Mayor Sebastian Duterte, condemned the proceedings as a “calculated plot” to prevent her from running for president in 2028.

The Sandiganbayan denied Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s request for temporary release from preventive detention to attend the trial, stating that the constitutional importance of the case does not justify such leave.

The Office of the Vice President also arranged logistical support for the defense, asking to bring a refrigerator, coffee maker and its own caterer to the designated holding area.