Philippines' VP Duterte challenges impeachment before Supreme Court

19/2/2025 16:44

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has asked the Supreme Court to nullify an impeachment complaint against her, making her first legal move to fight the case that could lead to her removal and lead to a lifetime ban from public office.



The lower house impeached Duterte on February 5 on accusations such as budget anomalies, amassing unusual wealth and an alleged threat to the lives of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the first lady, and the house speaker.



The daughter of the country's firebrand former leader, Duterte is seen as a strong candidate for the 2028 presidential election.



She has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, saying the move to impeach her, amidst a bitter rift with Marcos, was politically motivated.



In a petition to the Supreme Court, Duterte accused the lower house of "grave abuse of discretion" when it "deliberately circumvented" a constitutional safeguard against more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within a year.