MANILA, Philippines — Something big just happened in the Philippine government! Before Congress took a break, the House of Representatives officially impeached Vice President Sara Duterte. That means they filed serious charges against her and sent them to the Senate for a trial.
What Does “Impeached” Mean?
When a government official is impeached, it means they are accused of breaking important rules or laws. In this case, Vice President Duterte is being accused of:
- Misusing public funds – This means using government money the wrong way.
- Violating the Constitution – The Constitution is like the country’s rulebook, and breaking it is a big deal.
- Betraying public trust – This means not doing the job in a way that helps the people.
What Happened in Congress?
- The House of Representatives (one part of Congress) voted to impeach Duterte. A total of 215 lawmakers agreed.
- Around 5:30 PM, the House sent the official impeachment documents (called the Articles of Impeachment) to the Senate.
- However, the Senate did not discuss it right away because their session was about to end.
What Will the Senate Do?
- The Senate needs to review the charges and decide if Duterte should be removed from office.
- But since Congress is now on break until June 2, the trial won’t start right away.
- When the Senate returns, they will act as judges in the impeachment trial.
Can the Senate Act Before June?
- Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said that if all senators agree, they could start discussions early. But that would only happen in an extraordinary situation where no one objects.
- Senator Joel Villanueva said they will most likely talk about it when they return in June.
Final Words from Congress Leaders
- Senate Secretary Renato Bantug needs to confirm that the Senate received the impeachment documents before it can be discussed officially.
- House Speaker Martin Romualdez reminded politicians to focus on their duties, not just on gaining power.
Now, the country waits. Will Vice President Duterte be removed from office? Or will she be able to defend herself? We’ll find out when the Senate makes its decision in the coming months!
