Top Philippine senator to seek dismissal of Duterte impeachment case

MANILA - A top Philippine senator has drafted a resolution seeking to dismiss an impeachment case against Vice-President Sara Duterte, his office said on June 4, which could boost her chances of political survival after an acrimonious fallout with the president.

The

Lower House in February impeached Ms Duterte,

the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, on accusations that included budget anomalies, amassing unusual wealth and an alleged threat to the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the First Lady, and the house speaker.

Ms Sara Duterte faces a lifetime ban from office if convicted in a Senate trial. She has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. 

The resolution was drafted, according to his office, by Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a staunch ally of Ms Duterte and a former police chief under her father's 2016-2022 presidency. A Senate source, who declined to be identified, confirmed the draft was circulating among senators. 

The draft seen by Reuters says the Senate did not act promptly to begin proceedings upon receipt of the impeachment article, so the case was “de facto dismissed” as 100 days had already passed. 

It was not immediately clear when the resolution would be filed or how much support it would have. 

If it succeeds, it could intensify an escalating battle for power between Mr Marcos and former ally Duterte ahead of a 2028 presidential election that she is widely expected to contest, with Mr Marcos limited to a single term and unable to run again.   

At stake is the legacy and future influence of Mr Marcos, who has waged a decades-long campaign to defend his family's name from what he says are false historical narratives of plunder and brutality during the 1970s and 1980s rule of his strongman father and namesake.   

The effort to dismiss the case comes after a stronger-than-expected showing for allies of Ms Duterte in May’s midterm elections, demonstrating her popularity and unswerving influence, despite the row with Mr Marcos, humiliating legislative enquiries and the arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court of her father in March. 

The Senate’s current session ends next week, which the draft resolution said was insufficient time to act on the impeachment case. A new Senate will convene in late July.   

“The matter cannot cross over to the incoming 20th Congress,” the draft said. 

Mr Marcos has called for unity among all political camps and has distanced himself from the impeachment of Ms Duterte, which was backed overwhelmingly by a Lower House controlled by his allies. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Mr Dela Rosa’s proposed resolution. REUTERS