On Wednesday, Philippine lawmakers voted to remove vice president Sara Duterte from company, paving the way for a republic trial that could see her take office. She has fallen deeply with the country’s leader.
The property quality charges Duterte with “violation of the law, betrayal of public trust, bone and fraud, and other large crimes”.
An admitted Duterte plot to assassinate first lady Liza Marcos, leader Ferdinand Marcos, and home speaker Martin Romualdez has been the subject of an investigation, which is outlined in the 44-page file.
” Having been filed by more than one-third of the account of the House of Representatives, or a full of 215 people… the action is approved”, Romualdez, a Marcos aunt, told lawmakers Wednesday evening.
Student rebel Darlene Cerico told AFP that the prosecution, albeit inadequate, represented a significant success. Cerico said this at a little protest outside the house of representatives.
” I’m so happy because this demonstrates the strength of collective action,” I said. We know there are still many things to accomplish… to totally keep Sara Duterte accountable”, Cerico said.
The Philippines ‘ 24 senators, two-thirds of whom may vote for her prosecution to remove her from business and preclude her from upcoming open positions, now have the power to decide the destiny of the former mayor’s daughter. A test time has not yet been determined.
The impeachment vote on Wednesday comes after a group of grievances filed in December that accused Duterte of a range of acts, including the “brazen use” of millions of dollars in public money.
The midterm elections, which are commonly anticipated to set the stage for the 2028 presidential race, even come days before campaigning actually begins.
Social option
Whether 16 lawmakers cast their ballot for Duterte’s senate had come over to President Marcos, Dennis Coronacion, president of the social research department at the University of Santo Tomas, told AFP.
” If ( Marcos ) is committed to this one, to the impeachment process… I think getting the required amount of Senate vote is possible”, he said.
But if the presidency remain hands-off, the chances of Duterte being impeached are closer to 50-50, Coronacion said, pointing to the sitting lawmakers ‘ needed for votes from the vice-president’s enclave of Mindanao in the coming vote.
The upcoming trial, according to Jean Franco, associate professor of social science at the University of the Philippines, would provide incumbent senators with a significant opportunity to gain time of unrestricted television coverage.
” This is a political opportunity for politicians. This prosecution process can make or break lawmakers, she said, adding those who are not now in business would be looking in from the outside.
” The activity has been changed by this prosecution. All eyes are going to be on the process, so you’re only going to be reacting to what’s going to occur”.
Family conflict
Duterte and President Marcos ‘ connection is at a standstill, with their previous partnership eroding into a months-long legal battle that has resulted in wild accusations exchanged, including the alleged suicide risk.
But Marcos had recently urged Congress not to do Duterte’s senate, calling it a” surprise in a cup” that may distract the senate from its main responsibilities.
Marcos’s executive director Lucas Bersamin, nevertheless, said Monday that the office of the president do” not impede” with the prosecution complaints.
In the 2022 elections, Rodrigo was widely predicted to succeed Duterte as president, but he backed Marcos and afterward ran for vice president on his ticket.
But the empire has since imploded. In November, she delivered an expletive-laden statement saying she had ordered somebody to shoot Marcos if she herself was assassinated.
She eventually denied that her comments constituted a suicide risk, saying she had only been expressing” confusion” with the government’s problems.
In the final of three issues against Duterte, one of the allegations included the alleged assassination danger.
With her senate, Duterte becomes one of just four high-ranking officials to promote that fate since Ferdinand Marcos Sr’s 20-year rule of the Philippines came to an end in 1986.
Joseph Estrada, the president of the time, was detained in November 2000 on suspicion of larceny and taking money from illegal gambling activities, along with a supreme court justice and a prominent attorney.
Filipinos took to the streets in a bloodless revolt when the senate tribunal rejected crucial evidence, prompting Estrada to step down when the military withdrew its support.
