After spending nearly a month in The Hague, Netherlands, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has come back to the Philippines just before the Holy Week break. She is preparing to face her upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate.
Duterte-Carpio had traveled to The Hague to support her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently under arrest by the International Criminal Court. He is facing charges related to alleged crimes against humanity tied to the war on drugs during his presidency.
Upon returning, the Vice President said that her father’s legal defense is well-organized and that family members will take turns visiting him. She expressed that she feels ready and eager to face the Senate as it acts as the impeachment court.
This comes despite accusations from members of the House of Representatives linking her to the misuse of over 600 million pesos in confidential funds. The Office of the Vice President stated that she is expected to address these issues in the coming days.
Her return brought mixed reactions. A recent survey showed her popularity has increased while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval rating has dropped. However, the House released a new list of supposed recipients of the confidential funds, many with suspicious or fake names. Some names on the list resembled people close to her family, while others were clearly made-up.
Investigations found that many of these names had no official records like birth certificates or school enrollment. House officials believe these fake names were used to inflate the list of fund recipients. More details are expected to come out during the impeachment trial.
Duterte-Carpio has already appeared before a House committee but did not provide clear answers about the use of the confidential funds during her time as Vice President and Education Secretary. Some lawmakers say the impeachment could have been avoided if she had been more transparent.
The trial will start right after the President’s annual State of the Nation Address. The outcome will largely depend on the Senate’s makeup, including 12 new or returning senators. Many expect the vote to split along party lines.
If found guilty, Duterte-Carpio could be removed from office and barred from running for public positions in the future, which would affect her plans to run for president in 2028.