The Philippine House impeaches Vice President Sara Duterte again

The House of Representatives of the Philippines impeached Vice President Sara Duterte. It is the second time the House has impeached her. The vote was reported on May 11. Impeachment is the formal accusation by a legislature, not the final removal from office.

A vice president is the second-highest elected executive officer. In the Philippines, removal of a high official requires an impeachment by the House and then a trial in the Senate. A second impeachment means an earlier one had already been voted and this is a new set of articles or a new proceeding. The report states the second impeachment and does not list the charges.

The House is the lower chamber that has the power to impeach. Once it votes, the case goes to the Senate if the constitution's next step is followed. The report does not say that a Senate trial has started, and it does not give the vote margin. It identifies the officer, the chamber, and the fact that this is the second time.

Repeating an impeachment is unusual and signals that the dispute between the vice president and the House majority was not settled by the first attempt. The account does not describe the fate of the first case. It marks this vote as the second impeachment of Sara Duterte.

Impeachment politics in the Philippines have involved both the presidency and the vice presidency in recent years. This report is confined to the House action against the vice president. No court ruling is attached. No resignation is attached.

Sara Duterte has been impeached by the Philippine House for a second time. The May 11 vote is an accusation, and removal would require the further constitutional process. The charges were not itemized in the brief report. The House is the body that acted.