Philippine politics is basically a high-stakes soap opera where the plot twists actually affect millions of lives. If you’ve been following the news lately, you know the "UniTeam" alliance between President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte didn't just crack—it imploded. Now, we're looking at a scenario that would’ve seemed impossible two years ago.
The Sara Duterte impeachment attempt isn't just one single event. It's a messy, ongoing saga involving "ghost" recipients, secret funds, and some very public death threats.
Honestly, the timeline is enough to give anyone whiplash. Just when it looked like the Vice President was backed into a corner in early 2025, the Supreme Court stepped in and flipped the script. But don't think for a second that it’s over. With the "one-year bar" on filing new complaints about to expire on February 6, 2026, the halls of Congress are already buzzing again.
The 11-Day Disappearing Act: Why the Impeachment Started
The whole firestorm really traces back to one specific number: 125 million.
Back in late 2022, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) managed to spend ₱125 million in confidential funds in just 11 days. People were floored. How do you even move that much money that fast without leaving a paper trail? The Commission on Audit (COA) eventually flagged the spending as highly irregular.
Lawmakers like France Castro and the Makabayan bloc weren't about to let it slide. They started digging and found what they claimed were "fake" names on liquidation receipts—basically, people who didn't exist receiving government money. By February 5, 2025, things moved at lightning speed. The House of Representatives gathered 215 signatures and officially impeached her. It was a historic moment; she became the first Philippine Vice President to ever face such a trial.
The Charges That Stuck
It wasn't just about the money, though that was the biggest chunk of the 24 articles filed. The accusations were heavy:
👉 See also: Patrick Welsh Tim Kingsbury Today 2025: The Truth Behind the Identity Theft That Fooled a Town
- Betrayal of Public Trust: This is the "catch-all" charge in the Philippines. It covered the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds across both the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd).
- Culpable Violation of the Constitution: This centered on her bypass of regular budget processes.
- The Assassination Plot: This was the weirdest part. In a live broadcast, Duterte made comments about hiring an assassin to go after the President, the First Lady, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed. She claimed it wasn't a threat but a "security arrangement," but for Congress, it was the final straw.
The Supreme Court Plot Twist
Just as the Senate was preparing to act as an impeachment court, the Supreme Court threw a wrench in the gears. On July 25, 2025, the High Tribunal ruled 13-2 that the fourth impeachment complaint was unconstitutional.
The reason? A technicality called the "one-year bar."
The Philippine Constitution says you can't initiate impeachment proceedings against the same official more than once within a single year. Since there were multiple complaints flying around at the start of the 2024–2025 cycle, the Court ruled the House had jumped the gun. The Senate had no choice but to archive the articles and go home.
Duterte called the complaint a "scrap of paper." For a few months, it looked like she had won.
Why February 2026 Changes Everything
If you think the story ends there, you don't know Manila.
The Supreme Court's ruling didn't say Sara Duterte was innocent; it just said the process was wrong. That "one-year bar" expires on February 6, 2026. After that date, the House is legally free to file a brand-new complaint.
✨ Don't miss: Pasco County FL Sinkhole Map: What Most People Get Wrong
And they're already lining up. Rep. Edgar Erice and others have hinted that the "exciting February" is coming. This time, the allegations are even broader. While the old charges about confidential funds are still there, new issues regarding flood control scandals and "ghost" projects have entered the conversation.
Duterte hasn't stayed quiet, either. She’s been firing back at Speaker Martin Romualdez, accusing him of his own brand of corruption. It's a "he-said, she-said" battle involving billions of pesos, and honestly, it's getting harder to see who has the moral high ground.
The "Pork" in the 2026 Budget
There's a lot of talk right now about the ₱6.7 trillion 2026 national budget. Senator Imee Marcos—who, funnily enough, is the President's sister but often sides with the Dutertes—claimed there’s "pork" hidden in the budget specifically to buy votes for an impeachment.
Senator Erwin Tulfo denies this, saying the budget is clean. But in Philippine politics, money is always the lubricant for big moves. Whether it’s true or not, the rumor alone is enough to keep the political temperature at a boiling point.
What This Means for 2028
Everything we’re seeing is actually about the next presidential election.
Sara Duterte was the frontrunner for 2028. An impeachment conviction wouldn't just remove her from office; it would likely disqualify her from ever running again. Her allies, like former President Rodrigo Duterte, see this as "political persecution" by the Marcos administration to clear the path for their own preferred successor.
🔗 Read more: Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Complex: What Actually Happens Behind the Gates
On the other hand, critics say this is about finally holding the "Davao Dynasty" accountable for how they handle public money.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think an impeachment is like a criminal trial. It’s not. It’s a political process. You don't need "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" to convict a Vice President in the Senate; you just need enough senators to agree that she's no longer fit for office.
The math is simple: you need 16 senators (two-thirds) to convict. Right now, the numbers are shifting. With the 2025 midterms behind us, the Senate's makeup is different, and alliances are as stable as a house of cards in a typhoon.
Practical Realities: What to Watch For
If you're trying to keep track of this, here are the three things that actually matter in the coming weeks:
- The February 6 Threshold: Watch for the filing of a new complaint immediately after this date. If it doesn't happen by mid-February, the momentum might be fading.
- The Supreme Court’s Final Word: The House filed a "Motion for Reconsideration" on the 2025 ruling. If the Court surprisingly reverses itself, the old trial could theoretically resume instantly.
- The OVP Budget Hearings: Watch how the OVP's 2026 budget is handled. If Congress slashes her funding again, it’s a sign they have the numbers to move forward with the impeachment.
The Sara Duterte impeachment attempt is far from a closed chapter. It’s a battle for the soul of the 2028 elections, played out through budget documents and Senate hearings. Whether she stays or goes, the "UniTeam" is dead, and the political landscape of the Philippines has changed forever.
Keep an eye on the House Committee on Justice. They’ll be the ones deciding if the next complaint has "substance." If it does, expect a very long, very loud summer in Manila.
Actionable Insights for Following the Impeachment:
- Monitor the House Justice Committee: Their "form and substance" vote is the first real hurdle for any new complaint filed after February 6.
- Track COA Reports: The Commission on Audit’s annual reports are the only objective evidence in this fight. Look for updates on the 2024 and 2025 OVP spending.
- Check Senate Alliances: Follow how "swing" senators like the Tulfos or independent members vote on unrelated bills; it usually signals which way they’ll lean in an impeachment trial.