Impeachment Process Begins Against Vice President Sara Duterte

副總統莎拉·杜特蒂啟動彈劾程序

Jul 7, 2026, 12:39

Introduction

The Philippine Senate has started acting as an impeachment court to decide on the charges against Vice President Sara Duterte, after the House of Representatives voted in favor of the process.

在眾議院投票通過後，菲律賓參議院已開始充當彈劾法庭，以決定對副總統莎拉·杜特蒂的指控。

Main Body

The legal trial is expected to last 92 days. It began after 257 members of the House of Representatives approved the charges in May. These charges include corruption, the misuse of public money, owning assets that cannot be explained, and bribing government officials. Furthermore, the prosecution has presented video evidence to the 24 senators, which allegedly shows the Vice President making death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

這場法律審判預計將持續 92 天。在 5 月由 257 名眾議院議員通過指控後，審判正式開始。這些指控包括貪污、濫用公款、持有無法解釋的資產以及賄賂政府官員。此外，檢方已向 24 位參議員提交了影片證據，據稱顯示副總統對總統費迪南·馬可仕之子、第一夫人及前眾議院議長馬丁·羅穆亞爾德茲發出死亡威脅。

This political conflict marks the end of the alliance between the Duterte and Marcos families, who worked together to win the 2022 elections. The relationship worsened because the Vice President claimed that the President worked with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. Mr. Duterte is currently being held in The Hague and is waiting for a trial on November 30 regarding crimes against humanity committed during his anti-drug campaign.

這次政治衝突標誌著杜特蒂與馬可仕兩大家族之間同盟關係的結束，他們先前共同合作贏得 2022 年的選舉。關係惡化是因為副總統聲稱總統與國際刑事法院（ICC）合作，企圖逮捕她的父親——前總統羅德里戈·杜特蒂。杜特蒂先生目前被拘留在海牙，等待 11 月 30 日關於其在反毒運動期間犯下危害人類罪的審判。

Regarding the public and legal reaction, the Vice President's lawyers argue that the trial is actually political persecution. Despite the serious charges, the Vice President has remained confident. At the same time, her popularity among young people aged 18 to 24 is decreasing, although a March survey showed that 51% of people would still prefer her as president in 2028. The situation is even more complex because some of her allies in the Senate are facing their own corruption charges or ICC warrants.

關於公眾與法律反應，副總統的律師主張這場審判實際上是政治迫害。儘管指控嚴重，副總統仍保持自信。與此同時，她在 18 至 24 歲年輕人中的支持率正在下降，儘管 3 月份的一項調查顯示，仍有 51% 的人希望她在 2028 年出任總統。情況更加複雜的是，她在參議院的一些盟友也面臨著自己的貪污指控或 ICC 的逮捕令。

Conclusion

The Vice President is still on trial, and she will be removed from office if two-thirds of the Senate vote to convict her.

副總統仍在受審，若參議院三分之二議員投票定罪，她將被撤職。

Vocabulary Learning

The 'Power Pivot': Moving from Simple to Complex Logic

As an A2 learner, you usually connect ideas with simple words like and, but, or because. To reach B2, you need to use Connectors of Contrast and Addition to make your writing sound more professional and nuanced.

🚀 The B2 Upgrade

Look at these transitions found in the text. They do the same job as A2 words, but they provide a "bridge" to higher fluency:

"Furthermore" $\rightarrow$ (Instead of saying 'and also')
- Text example: "Furthermore, the prosecution has presented video evidence..."
- Why it works: It signals that you are adding a new, important point to an argument.
"Despite" $\rightarrow$ (Instead of saying 'but')
- Text example: "Despite the serious charges, the Vice President has remained confident."
- Why it works: It allows you to put a surprising fact at the beginning of the sentence to create tension.
"Although" $\rightarrow$ (A more sophisticated 'but')
- Text example: "...although a March survey showed that 51% of people would still prefer her..."
- Why it works: It balances two opposing ideas in one single flow.

🛠️ Practical Application

To sound like a B2 speaker, stop starting every sentence with the subject. Try this structure:

[Connector] + [Noun/Fact], [Main Idea]

A2 Style: She has many charges, but she is confident.
B2 Style: Despite the many charges, she remains confident.

🔍 Vocabulary Spotlight: The 'Legal' Cluster

To move toward B2, stop using general words like 'bad things' or 'crime'. Start using specific Collocations (words that naturally go together) from the text:

Misuse of public money (Not just 'stealing')
Political persecution (Not just 'unfair treatment')
Crimes against humanity (A specific legal term for severe violations)
Removed from office (The professional way to say 'fired' from a government position)

Vocabulary Learning

impeachment (n.)

A formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, which may lead to their removal from office.

Example:The impeachment of the president caused a major political crisis in the country.

misuse (v.)

To use something in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose, often dishonestly.

Example:The manager was fired after the company discovered he had misused public funds.

allegedly (adv.)

Used when something is said to be true, but has not yet been proven.

Example:The suspect allegedly stole the jewelry from the store last Tuesday.

alliance (n.)

A relationship formed between two countries, groups, or people for their mutual benefit.

Example:The two political parties formed an alliance to win the upcoming election.

persecution (n.)

Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race, political or religious beliefs.

Example:The activist claimed that the government's legal actions were actually political persecution.

convict (v.)

To officially declare someone to be guilty of a criminal offense in a court of law.

Example:The jury had enough evidence to convict the defendant of fraud.

Practice B2 words in a crossword→