MANILA — Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has petitioned the Supreme Court to dismiss the impeachment case against her, marking her first legal move to challenge proceedings that could lead to her removal from office and a lifetime ban from public service.

The lower house impeached Duterte on February 5, citing allegations of budget mismanagement, unexplained wealth accumulation, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte has denied all charges, claiming the impeachment is politically motivated and a direct result of her ongoing conflict with Marcos.

As the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte is seen as a leading candidate for the 2028 presidential election. Her supporters argue that the impeachment is an attempt to derail her political career. In her petition, Duterte accused the lower house of “grave abuse of discretion,” alleging that lawmakers circumvented constitutional safeguards, which prevent more than one impeachment proceeding against an official within a year.

"This political maneuver disregards constitutional principles and is aimed at permanently disqualifying me from running for any national office," she stated in her filing. Duterte also requested the Supreme Court to halt the Senate from proceeding with the impeachment trial, which Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has indicated may commence in June, following the midterm elections in May. The Senate, composed of 24 members, will serve as the jury in the trial, which could result in Duterte’s removal from office and a permanent ban from holding public office.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez has not yet responded to Duterte’s petition. However, House leaders dismissed her legal move as a “desperate” attempt to evade accountability, insisting that the impeachment process is in line with constitutional procedures. As the Supreme Court reviews her petition, the political landscape in the Philippines remains tense, with Duterte’s impeachment battle shaping up to be a significant test of power dynamics between her camp and the Marcos administration.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters file.