Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio Faces Setback in Impeachment Trial

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio suffered a serious setback in her impeachment trial this week after the Senate allowed prosecutors to examine key financial records in an unexplained wealth case against her.

Analysts said the Senate impeachment court’s ruling could give prosecutors a clearer route to show she amassed ill-gotten wealth and pull down her popularity ratings in time for the 2028 presidential election, thus raising the stakes for Duterte-Carpio as she fights not only to keep her office but also to avoid being barred from the race.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero ruled on Monday that the records could be opened in connection with one of the four articles of impeachment against Duterte-Carpio, whose trial has become a test of both her political survival and the limits of accountability for one of the Philippines’ most powerful families.

She was impeached two months ago, on May 11, for the second time by the lower chamber on four counts: unexplained wealth, bribery, misuse of confidential funds and grave threats.

Wednesday marked the ninth day of her trial and the last day for the prosecution to present evidence that Duterte-Carpio had issued grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, his wife Liza, and cousin Martin Romualdez, the former House speaker.

Duterte-Carpio said during a Facebook live stream on November 23, 2024, that she had already hired a hitman to assassinate the three of them in the event she was killed.