For the second time in her term as Vice President, Sara Duterte now faces an impeachment trial before the Senate after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved her impeachment on Monday, May 11, 2026. The plenary vote produced a decisive result — 257 lawmakers in favor, 25 against, and nine who abstained — sending the articles of impeachment to the upper chamber for formal proceedings.
Overwhelming Majority Backs Impeachment in Plenary Vote
When House members cast their votes during the May 11, 2026 plenary session, the outcome left little room for doubt. A total of 257 district and party-list representatives voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, while only 25 cast dissenting votes and nine chose to abstain, according to reports from ABS-CBN News.
The 257-vote majority far surpassed the constitutional threshold required to move an impeachment forward. Under the Philippine Constitution, impeachment articles need the support of at least one-third of all House members to proceed to the Senate. Monday's tally exceeded that requirement by a wide margin, underscoring the commanding strength of the pro-impeachment bloc within the current House composition.
Vice President Duterte has denied the allegations cited in the impeachment complaint. While the specific charges were not fully detailed in available reports, the case has now cleared the lower chamber twice, advancing once again toward a Senate trial that will ultimately decide her political future.
The 25 Representatives Who Voted Against
Despite the lopsided result, 25 lawmakers stood against the impeachment measure. According to Politiko, a Philippine political news outlet, the representatives who voted "No" during the May 11 session were:
1. Bohol Rep. Maria Vanessa "Vanvan" Aumentado
2. General Santos City Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles
3. Cavite Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga
4. Agusan del Norte Rep. Dale Corvera
5. Davao Oriental Rep. Nelson "JR" Dayanghirang
6. Cebu Rep. Rachel Marguerite Del Mar
7. PPP Party-list Rep. Harold Duterte
8. Davao City Rep. Omar Duterte
9. Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte
10. Cebu Rep. Karen Hope Garcia
11. Laguna Rep. Ramil Hernandez
12. Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste
13. South Cotabato Rep. Isidro Lumayag
14. SSS-GSIS Party-list Rep. Rolando Macasaet
15. SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Marcoleta
16. Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado
17. BH Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal
18. Bukidnon Rep. Laarni Roque
19. Cebu Rep. Sun Shimura
20. Ako Ilocano Ako Party-list Rep. Richelle Singson
21. Quezon City Rep. Jesus "Bong" Suntay
22. Bohol Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor
23. Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab
24. Malasakit at Bayanihan Foundation Party-list Rep. Girlie Veloso
25. Nueva Ecija Rep. Julius Cesar Vergara
Among the most notable names on the dissenting list are three representatives bearing the Duterte surname — Harold, Omar, and Paolo Duterte of Davao City — all identified by Politiko as relatives of the Vice President. The "No" votes also came from lawmakers representing Cebu, Bohol, Batangas, Laguna, Southern Leyte, and several party-list seats, reflecting pockets of opposition across various regions and political groupings.
This Is the Second Time the House Has Acted Against Duterte
Monday's vote is historically significant because it represents the second occasion that the House of Representatives has passed an impeachment measure against Vice President Sara Duterte. Philippine constitutional rules prohibit the filing of more than one impeachment complaint against the same official within a single session year. The current complaint, however, was filed under a new session year, making it constitutionally permissible.
The impeachment process requires that a complaint first clear the House Committee on Justice before being elevated to the full House for plenary deliberation. Once approved by a sufficient majority during the plenary vote, the articles of impeachment are formally transmitted to the Senate, which then constitutes itself as an impeachment tribunal.
Historically, impeachment proceedings against Philippine officials have been relatively infrequent. The fact that the same official is now facing a second House-approved impeachment measure adds an unusual dimension to an already closely watched political and legal battle.
What Happens Next: The Senate Trial
With the House having completed its role in the impeachment process, the spotlight now shifts to the Senate. The 24-member upper chamber will convene as an impeachment court and is tasked with hearing the charges, evaluating the evidence, and ultimately rendering a verdict on whether Vice President Sara Duterte should be removed from office.
According to Reuters, a conviction by the Senate would carry two severe consequences under Philippine law: the removal of Duterte from the Office of the Vice President, and her permanent disqualification from holding any elective or appointive public position in the future. To secure a conviction, at least 16 of the 24 senators — a two-thirds majority — must vote in favor.
As of May 12, 2026, the Senate had not yet publicly announced a formal schedule for the start of the impeachment trial. The timeline for proceedings, including the scheduling of hearings and the presiding arrangements, was not yet available in reports at the time of writing.
Duterte's Denial and Political Background
Vice President Sara Duterte has maintained her innocence, denying the allegations that form the basis of the impeachment complaint, according to Reuters. The detailed charges contained in the articles of impeachment were not fully enumerated in available source reports.
Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who governed the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 as the country's 16th president. Before entering national politics, Sara Duterte served as Mayor of Davao City. She was elected Vice President in the 2022 national elections as part of the UniTeam alliance alongside President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The political dynamics surrounding the case are expected to remain in the headlines in the days and weeks ahead, as the articles of impeachment are formally received by the Senate and proceedings begin to take shape. Further developments — including the composition of the Senate impeachment court and the schedule of hearings — are anticipated as the process moves forward.
Sources: ABS-CBN News, Reuters, Politiko