The Philippines is launching a case against VP Duterte among political parties | Political Affairs

The Senate was set up despite the changes in the leadership of the House and the shooting.

The Philippines’ Senate, which has served as a court of law, has opened the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte amid protests and deep divisions.

The case that was opened on Monday came just a few days later chaos and shooting in the upper house and major changes in his leadership, all stemming from the dramatic resurgence of the pro-Duterte Senator’s cover. wanted by the International Criminal Court.

Impeachment charges could result in the vice president being barred from public office, derailing his bid to win the presidency in 2028.

“The case against Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte has been opened,” said the new Senate President, Alan Peter Cayetano. The Duterte loyalist was installed as head of the upper house in the May 11 vote.

The vote was pushed to the line by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is accused by the ICC of crimes against humanity for the violence. “war on drugs” was run by the father of the opponent, Rodrigo Duterte, while President between 2016 and 2022.

He has been in hiding since the ICC’s subpoena was said to have been issued in November, he said he reappeared in time to vote, putting Cayetano in the lead position of the case.

However, he also met with the police who want to arrest him on the ICC warrant. Taking refuge in the Senate House, he later fled after a military attack and reports of gunfire.

The opening of the case saw Sara Duterte, 47, given 10 days to answer the charges that she misused public funds, acquired undeclared assets, and threatened the life of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the first lady, and the former speaker of the House.

Duterte, who announced in February he wants to run for the next presidential electionHe has denied any wrongdoing and has said that the removal is due to politics.

His defense attorneys said they would follow the court’s order but would not comment on the case. The court has not set a date for the trial to begin.

Duterte’s prosecution comes with his father at the ICC in The Hague. The former president is expected to receive confirmation of the charges against him, which include crimes committed against him “war on drugs”when tens of thousands were killed by the killing squads.

President Marcos and Sara Duterte are both members of powerful political families who ran together in the 2022 elections, before a major dispute that led to the vice president’s financial audit. Marcos then turned his father over to the ICC.

The president tried to distance himself from the impeachment, saying it was a matter of law.

Scores of protesters demonstrated outside the heavily guarded Senate building on Monday, some showing support for Duterte, others calling for his death.

“The chaotic events of the past week have shown that the Senate, under the leadership of Duterte’s allies, will be transformed into a body that can protect the interests of the Dutertes,” opposition leader Mong Palatino told Al Jazeera.

Others say that dela Rosa’s escape has fueled distrust of politicians, and are calling on authorities to arrest him and impeach the politicians who helped him.

“To our dear senators, instead of seeking justice for those who were killed indiscriminately, you helped dela Rosa escape arrest, and you removed the former president of the Senate to protect Sara Duterte,” said Manette Castillo, the mother of a drug victim.