Impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte starting

Key Points:

• The Philippine Senate will begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, amid a tense political rivalry with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with the trial expected to last 92 days.
• Duterte faces charges including unexplained wealth accumulation and publicly threatening to assassinate Marcos, which she denies; a conviction would bar her from holding public office and derail her 2028 presidential ambitions.
• The impeachment follows a bitter fallout between Duterte and Marcos, who were once political allies in the 2022 elections, and comes amid broader geopolitical tensions involving the Philippines' relations with the US, China, and Russia.
• Over 6,000 police officers are deployed to secure the Senate amid anticipated protests by both supporters and opponents of Duterte, while some pro-Duterte senators face separate legal challenges related to corruption allegations.
• The House of Representatives, dominated by Marcos allies, overwhelmingly voted for Duterte's impeachment last month, accusing her of misuse of funds and making threats against political figures, charges she has largely refused to publicly address.