Philippine Senate to Open Impeachment Trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

The Philippine Senate is scheduled to open Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial on Monday. The trial places her political career and planned 2028 presidential run at immediate risk. Conviction and removal from office would require the support of at least 16 of the 24 senators.

Thousands of police officers have been stationed around the Senate building in Manila to maintain security during the proceedings.

Duterte has been impeached twice previously. She denies any wrongdoing and has described the charges as politically motivated. The trial unfolds amid sharp divisions within the Senate and broader political tensions between the country's two dominant dynasties.

One source noted that the proceedings could deepen existing turmoil, following earlier revelations of graft that reduced consumer and investor confidence. Public confidence in the process remains a key factor cited by analysts monitoring the case.