On Tuesday, June 10, the Philippine Senate voted to return the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives, citing the need to verify its constitutional validity. The decision came just hours after the Senate had convened the impeachment trial, in a move that surprised many and could potentially change the trajectory of Duterte’s political future.

The decision followed intense debates in the chamber, including an attempt by one of Duterte's allies to dismiss the case altogether. Rather than end the trial, senators agreed to pause proceedings and ask the lower house to confirm that it had followed proper legal procedures in forwarding the case. Sara Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is facing impeachment after her political alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. collapsed last year. The two had run together on a successful 2022 ticket. Now, their fallout has escalated into a political showdown that could shape both leaders’ futures. Marcos, who is limited to a single term, may be eyeing a loyal successor to block Duterte's rise if she survives the trial.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, a supporter of Duterte, filed the motion to return the case. He argued the Senate had maintained political neutrality in choosing to verify the legality of the lower house's proceedings. In February, the House impeached Duterte on allegations including high crimes, abuse of public trust, suspicious accumulation of wealth, and threats to the lives of Marcos and other top officials. Duterte has denied all charges.

The Senate's move stirred further public debate and added uncertainty to an already volatile political environment. Senators emphasized that the trial was not canceled, only delayed until the newly elected Congress, set to convene in late July, is prepared to act on it. Duterte was officially summoned to answer the charges and given 10 days to respond.

In a statement, Duterte’s office reiterated her intent to disprove the accusations and criticized the use of impeachment as a political tool to target opponents. The president’s office declined to comment. Although Marcos has tried to distance himself from the impeachment, the effort originated from his allies in Congress. Duterte is the fifth senior official in Philippine history to face impeachment. Of the previous cases, only former Chief Justice Renato Corona was convicted. The trial of ex-President Joseph Estrada was cut short after a dramatic walkout by prosecutors, while others resigned before facing trial.

Both Duterte and a group of her legal supporters have challenged the impeachment in the Supreme Court, calling for the complaint to be thrown out. Meanwhile, the left-leaning Makabayan bloc criticized the Senate’s decision as unconstitutional and dangerous, arguing that it undermines the role of impeachment in holding high-ranking officials accountable.