Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte told reporters that her relationship with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr had become so ‘toxic’ that she sometimes imagines beheading him .
The political crisis in the Philippines is deepening as the country’s House of Representatives moves closer to impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte for the second time. The impeachment vote, expected on Monday, marks another dramatic chapter in the growing power struggle between the Duterte family and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Lawmakers accuse Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, of violating the constitution, betraying public trust, misusing confidential government funds, failing to declare assets, and involvement in alleged bribery activities. The complaint also references controversial statements linked to alleged death threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
One of the most serious allegations involves suspicious financial transactions reportedly exceeding 110 million dollars. According to complainants, the transactions were flagged by the country’s anti-money laundering agency and could not be reasonably explained through legitimate income or declared assets. Lawmakers pushing the impeachment say the case is not merely political but a constitutional responsibility aimed at ensuring accountability at the highest level of government.
The House of Representatives is seeking Duterte’s removal from office and a lifetime ban from holding any public office if she is found guilty. Under Philippine law, at least one-third of House members must support the impeachment for it to proceed to the Senate for trial. Reports indicate the required number of votes has already been secured.
This is not the first impeachment effort against the vice president. In 2025, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a previous impeachment complaint with more than 200 votes.
However, the Supreme Court of the Philippines later nullified the case on technical grounds, preventing a Senate trial.
The latest move reflects the collapse of the once-powerful political alliance between Marcos and Duterte, who ran together successfully in the 2022 elections. Relations between the two camps have since deteriorated sharply, fueling political tensions across the country.
The feud intensified further following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte under an order linked to the International Criminal Court.
Despite the mounting pressure, Sara Duterte has remained defiant. Speaking to supporters after visiting her father in The Hague, Netherlands, she said her fate was ultimately “written by God,” adding that whether she is impeached or not is beyond political control.
If the House formally approves the impeachment, the case will move to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote would be required to convict and remove her from office. The outcome could reshape the political future of the Philippines ahead of the 2028 presidential election, which Duterte has already signaled she intends to contest.
