Can Sara Duterte Be Disbarred and Impeached?

Yes, Vice President Sara Duterte can be disbarred and impeached.

Let me start this blog with an honest observation: Vice President Sara Duterte’s actions, words, and decisions lately appear to be asking for her own crucifixion. She’s been acting like a dangerous, wounded animal trapped in a corner, lashing out and making moves that seem more self-destructive than strategic.

But how did it come to this?

The Colossal Mistake That Triggered the Downfall

Sara Duterte made a colossal mistake that marked the beginning of her career’s rapid decline. And no, this isn’t about the now infamous feud between her and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. It goes much further back—to when she and her father, Rodrigo Duterte, struck a political deal that allowed Marcos to run for president.

The Duterte family, like many political dynasties, has its own ambitions. Having tasted the immense power and influence of the presidency during Rodrigo Duterte’s term, they understood what it could do for their family and their legacy. It was the ultimate dream—a continuation of their dominance at the highest level of government.

That dream was relinquished when Sara and her father agreed to step aside and let Marcos take the lead, forging a partnership they believed would cement their hold on power. What they likely saw as a calculated move turned out to be an act of surrender. Instead of securing their legacy, the Dutertes abdicated their political future, leaving the Marcos family to reclaim dominance and push the Duterte name into the shadows.

This growing vulnerability has also exposed her to questions of accountability, particularly through the mechanisms of impeachment and disbarment. These are no longer abstract possibilities but pressing matters being raised by lawmakers and the public alike.

Understanding Impeachment in the Philippine Context

Impeachment is the most serious accountability mechanism available for high-ranking officials in the Philippines. The Constitution outlines specific grounds for impeachment, each representing a grave violation of public trust or the law:

1. Culpable Violation of the Constitution
   Intentional and serious disregard for the provisions of the Constitution, such as failing to ensure transparency in public fund usage.

2. Treason
   Acts of betraying the country, such as aiding an enemy in times of war, compromising national security.

3. Bribery
   Accepting money or favors in exchange for decisions or actions in public office.

4. Graft and Corruption
   Unlawfully using public funds or abusing power for personal gain, such as misappropriating confidential funds.

5. Other High Crimes
   Serious offenses that harm governance or public interest, like embezzlement or organized fraud.

6. Betrayal of Public Trust
   Erosion of public confidence through gross misconduct, negligence, or unethical behavior.

While I am not a lawyer, I find these constitutional provisions fascinating, particularly in how they hold public officials accountable. As someone observant, I can’t help but notice how Sara Duterte’s actions align with these grounds, raising valid questions about her fitness for office.

For Vice President Duterte, alleged misuse of confidential funds and public threats could be categorized under betrayal of public trust or graft. Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua has described the misuse of P125 million in confidential funds over 11 days as “shocking” and pointed to incomplete documentation for large expenditures, further raising questions about accountability.

A Failure to Answer the Simple Question

One of the most glaring issues in the ongoing controversy is Vice President Duterte’s repeated refusal and calculated machinations to avoid answering the quad committee’s straightforward question: What happened to the confidential funds?

Her lack of transparency has not only put her credibility in question but has also placed her team in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) under intense scrutiny and duress. These are circumstances they likely never anticipated nor experienced under the leadership of former Vice President Leni Robredo.

During Robredo’s tenure, transparency and efficiency were emphasized. In contrast, Duterte’s leadership has been marked by secrecy and deflection. The difference is stark, and the implications are unavoidable.

Her defiance, coupled with inflammatory rhetoric, only increases suspicion and amplifies the growing calls for her accountability. This behavior does not inspire confidence in her leadership and leaves a question that grows louder with each passing day: when will accountability catch up to her?

Disbarment: What It Means and Why It Happens

Disbarment is the ultimate penalty for lawyers who fail to uphold the ethical and professional standards of their profession. It revokes a lawyer’s right to practice law and strips them of their membership in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

Key reasons for disbarment include:

1. Gross Misconduct: Actions that disregard ethical standards, such as abusive language or deceit.

2. Immorality: Morally reprehensible acts like bigamy or extramarital affairs.

3. Abuse of Authority: Exploiting legal knowledge to commit fraud or obstruct justice.

4. Unethical Conduct: Violating the Code of Professional Responsibility through dishonesty or bribery.

5. Incompetence or Negligence: Persistent failure to meet the profession’s high standards.

Sara Duterte’s public threats to assassinate Marcos and others could be considered gross misconduct. Such remarks not only violate the ethical standards expected of a lawyer but also bring the profession into disrepute.

The Dutertes’ Fall from Grace

Sara Duterte’s current troubles go beyond her own actions—they represent the unraveling of a political dynasty that once held immense power. When Rodrigo Duterte was president, many threw their support behind his family. Politicians, public figures, and even ordinary citizens aligned themselves with the Dutertes, hoping to benefit from their influence. Yet today, those same allies have chosen silence, quietly watching as Sara Duterte’s credibility falls apart under scrutiny.

Filipinos who voted for Rodrigo Duterte are also showing signs of disenchantment. Many feel betrayed, disillusioned by the scandals and failures that have marred the family’s legacy. While some supporters still defend Sara Duterte, their voices are no longer strong enough to counter the rising tide of criticism.

What we are witnessing is the slow, painful fall of a political clan that once seemed unstoppable. The Marcoses, who likely see the Dutertes as a lingering threat to their own dominance, have allowed this downfall to unfold without resistance. The silence from former allies and the diminishing support from voters paint a grim picture of the family’s waning influence.

No political dynasty is immune to collapse when public trust erodes and power begins to shift. Sara Duterte’s actions have not only jeopardized her own career but have also exposed the cracks in her family’s empire. For millions of Filipinos, this moment is more than just the downfall of one person—it’s the end of an era for a political clan that once commanded the highest seat of power.

Conclusion

Sara Duterte’s current situation reflects more than just personal accountability—it is a reckoning that raises questions about how far the nation is willing to go to demand justice and transparency from its leaders. Impeachment and disbarment are not just tools for punishment; they are mechanisms designed to preserve integrity and remind those in power that no one is untouchable.

Her refusal and calculated machinations to avoid answering simple questions—what happened to the confidential funds?—have further eroded her credibility. Her fiery and unpredictable behavior has only worsened the situation, alienating allies and amplifying public scrutiny of her leadership.

The fall of a political dynasty is rarely a solitary event. It exposes weaknesses in leadership, creates rifts among former supporters, and challenges the systems meant to hold leaders accountable. For Sara Duterte, the question isn’t whether she will face consequences, but whether the Filipino people will demand them—and how long they are willing to wait.

Ultimately, this moment is not just about Sara Duterte’s downfall. It is a chance for the nation to reevaluate the kind of leaders it elevates and the structures that allow abuses to go unchecked. Accountability is not just about penalizing those in power—it is about protecting the people and ensuring that public service remains a trust, not a privilege.