The House of Representatives on Monday overwhelmingly approved the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, formally sending the high-stakes case to the Senate for trial.
Voting 255-26 with nine abstentions, lawmakers adopted Committee Report No. 261 and House Resolution No. 989, paving the way for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court.
The approved Articles of Impeachment consolidate multiple allegations against the Vice President, including the alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, graft and corruption, and supposed threats directed at top government officials.
The House vote marked one of the most politically significant moments in recent years and set the stage for a potentially historic impeachment trial in the Senate.
Lawmakers backing the measure argued that the evidence gathered during committee proceedings established sufficient grounds to elevate the case for trial, stressing that the House’s role was to determine probable cause rather than guilt.
Opponents of the impeachment, however, maintained that the case was politically motivated and questioned the timing of the proceedings.
With the approval of the committee report and resolution, the Articles of Impeachment are now set to be formally transmitted to the Senate, which is constitutionally mandated to hear and decide the case.
The Senate is expected to organize itself into an impeachment court in the coming days, with senators serving as judges during the trial.
The impeachment proceedings are anticipated to intensify political tensions in the country as both allies and critics of the Vice President prepare for what could become one of the most closely watched political battles in recent Philippine history.