Philippine groups seek impeachment of Vice-President Sara Duterte

The complaint alleges she violated the constitution by skipping budget hearings and engaging in corruption, along with her violent rhetoric and elitist entitlement

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Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte, left, listens as she attends a hearing at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Philippines on November 25. Photo: AP

Published: 4:55pm, 2 Dec 2024Updated: 6:12pm, 2 Dec 2024

An alliance of civil society groups in the Philippines filed an impeachment complaint on Monday against Vice-President Sara Duterte, on grounds of grave misconduct and constitutional violations.

The daughter of firebrand former President Rodrigo Duterte has been embroiled in a bitter row with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jnr and is the subject of an inquiry into her spending by the House of Representatives. She denies wrongdoing.

Monday’s complainants included civil society and religious leaders, as well as former government officials critical of her father.

“The Vice-President has reduced public office to a platform for violent rhetoric, personal enrichment, elitist entitlement and a shield for impunity,” Teresita Quintos Deles, one of the complainants, said in a statement.

A representative of the Akbayan opposition party endorsed the complaint in the Philippine House of Representatives.

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte holds a press conference at a hospital in Quezon City, Metro Manila on November 26. Photo: AFP

Duterte did not immediately issue any response to the impeachment bid.