Rodrigo Duterte Joins Daughter’s Legal Team as VP Sara Duterte Challenges Impeachment Before Supreme Court

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In a dramatic twist to the already turbulent political climate in the Philippines, former President Rodrigo Duterte has officially joined the defense team of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, as she fights against her impeachment. This unexpected move signals the high stakes of the case and further fuels the growing tensions between the Duterte and Marcos factions.

The Impeachment Battle: A Political Power Play?

On February 5, 2025, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, citing serious allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and even an alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The impeachment motion passed with 215 out of 306 legislators voting in favor, underscoring the gravity of the accusations against her. With the Senate set to commence the impeachment trial on June 2, 2025—just after the crucial mid-term elections—the political landscape is heating up.

However, Vice President Duterte and her allies have consistently maintained that the impeachment is politically motivated. Many believe that this move is an orchestrated effort to eliminate her as a formidable contender in the 2028 presidential elections. Defense lawyer Israelito Torreon went so far as to call it "political persecution," arguing that the impeachment process was rushed to remove her from power before she could further consolidate her influence.

A High-Powered Legal Team Takes the Fight to the Supreme Court

In a decisive response, Vice President Duterte filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Supreme Court, seeking to invalidate the impeachment complaint and halt the upcoming Senate trial. Her legal team contends that the impeachment process violated constitutional provisions, particularly the rule against multiple impeachments within a single year, thereby rendering the case invalid.

The defense team is stacked with legal heavyweights, most notably former President Rodrigo Duterte himself. Joining him are Lucas Carpio Jr. (Sara Duterte’s father-in-law), as well as prominent lawyers Sigfried Fortun, Gregorio Narvasa, Sheila Sison, and Roberto Batongbacal from the esteemed law firm Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar. Their presence in the case signals that the Duterte camp is pulling out all the stops to ensure Sara Duterte remains in power.

Tensions Mount Between the Duterte and Marcos Camps

The impeachment battle has exacerbated the already growing rift between the Duterte and Marcos factions. While the Duterte camp has framed the impeachment as an outright political attack, the Marcos administration has been careful to frame it as an effort to uphold democratic accountability. The case has triggered widespread public debate, with Duterte loyalists seeing it as a witch hunt, while Marcos supporters argue it’s a necessary step toward good governance.

To complicate matters further, former President Rodrigo Duterte himself is currently under criminal investigation for incitement to sedition. His incendiary remarks suggesting that opposition senators should be "bombed" to make way for his party’s candidates have sparked outrage and legal scrutiny. This development adds yet another layer of complexity to the Duterte family's political and legal challenges.

What’s Next?

As the Supreme Court reviews the petition, the nation remains on edge, awaiting a decision that could have far-reaching consequences. If the high court rules in favor of Vice President Duterte, it could upend the impeachment process and deal a major blow to the Marcos administration’s efforts to sideline her. However, if the court upholds the impeachment, she will face trial in the Senate, where her political future hangs in the balance.

Regardless of the outcome, this case is poised to redefine the country’s political trajectory. With mid-term elections approaching and the 2028 presidential race looming on the horizon, the battle between the Dutertes and the Marcoses is only just beginning.

Stay tuned as we continue to cover this developing story.

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