4 hours Ago
Impeachment and Political Dynasties
This election is especially significant because the Marcos camp has been pushing to impeach Vice-President Duterte. The move was triggered by several events, including criminal charges filed against her and the decision to send her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court over human rights violations during his war on drugs. If the impeachment succeeds, Sara Duterte would be barred from public office, preventing her from running for president in 2028—where she is currently the leading candidate.
However, impeachment requires two-thirds of the 24-seat Senate. With only a few senators loyal to Marcos and many others having their own ambitions, building enough support will be difficult. Senators in the Philippines often come from powerful families or celebrity backgrounds and are known to shift sides based on public opinion and personal political goals.
Politics in the Philippines is dominated by family dynasties. The Marcoses have been involved in politics for 80 years, starting with Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who ruled from 1965 to 1986 and imposed martial law. Imelda Marcos, 95, known for her vast shoe collection, still cast her vote. Imee Marcos secured re-election by switching sides, while Bongbong Marcos's son Sandro serves as a congressman, and cousin Martin Romualdez is Speaker of the House and a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
In Ilocos Norte, the Marcos stronghold, family members dominated local elections. Likewise, in Davao, the Duterte family remains strong. Even from a prison cell in The Hague, Rodrigo Duterte won the mayoral election with only a cardboard cutout for voters to see. His son Sebastian Duterte will take over as vice-mayor. The family has ruled Davao for 34 of the last 37 years.
Public Sentiment and What Lies Ahead
The election showed growing dissatisfaction with President Marcos. His public speaking struggles and economic management have led to declining popularity. His decision to extradite Rodrigo Duterte was portrayed by Sara Duterte as a betrayal. In a rally in Manila, she played an emotional video of her father being taken into custody, calling it an act of theft.
Imee Marcos joined the Duterte rally, opposing her brother's decisions and likely seeking to benefit from Duterte's strong support. Her gamble paid off—she made it into the Senate despite earlier polling poorly.
With the Senate now more divided, Marcos faces an uphill battle to push the impeachment forward. Some senators within his alliance and those not up for re-election have expressed opposition to impeaching Sara Duterte. However, there's a glimmer of hope for Marcos in the unexpected victories of Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan, both from the liberal camp. They oppose both the Marcos and Duterte camps and may vote for impeachment to prevent a Duterte return to the presidency.
The impeachment trial is expected to begin in July. Until then, both political camps will work to sway senators to their side. With no history of a successful impeachment of either a president or vice-president in the Philippines, the outcome is uncertain. What is clear is that the rivalry between the Marcos and Duterte families is pushing the country into a year of political turbulence.
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