The Philippines is moving toward unprecedented political confrontation as Vice President Sara Duterte faces impeachment proceedings, a dramatic turn that marks the complete breakdown of the Manila-based alliance that brought President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to power in 2022.
According to reports circulating among legal circles in Manila, the prosecution team being assembled includes some of the country's most prominent attorneys. Attorneys Mel Sta. Maria, Lorna Kapunan, and Virgil Ligutan are being considered as private prosecutors, while the public prosecution may be led by Representatives Gerville Luistro and Chel Diokno, along with former Senator Leila de Lima.
The selection of De Lima carries particular symbolic weight. The former senator spent nearly seven years in detention on drug charges during Rodrigo Duterte's presidency—charges widely viewed by international observers as politically motivated. Her potential role in prosecuting the former president's daughter represents a stunning reversal of political fortunes.
The impeachment push reflects the spectacular collapse of what was once considered an unbreakable political partnership. The Marcos-Duterte tandem won the 2022 presidential election with over 31 million votes, combining the established political machinery of the Marcos family in Luzon with the Duterte stronghold in Mindanao. That alliance has now shattered completely.
Regional analysts point to several factors driving the split. The Marcos administration has pivoted toward stronger ties with Washington, expanding U.S. military access to Philippine bases and taking a firmer stance on the West Philippine Sea dispute with China. This represents a marked shift from the elder Duterte's approach, which prioritized engagement with Beijing while questioning the value of the U.S. alliance.
