Senator Imee Marcos, 70, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., voiced firm support for Vice-President Sara Duterte amid the lead-up to Duterte's Senate impeachment trial starting in July 2026 [1, 2, 3]. Marcos called the campaign against the Duterte family "insane and wicked," saying, "It’s been wasted on this insane and wicked campaign against the Dutertes" [1].
Imee Marcos also expressed confidence in Duterte’s leadership, stating, "I have great confidence in Sara. She has manifested great executive ability and compassion" [2]. She highlighted Duterte’s potential to win the 2028 presidential election [1, 2].
Marcos is one of 13 senators allied with the vice president among the 24-member Philippine Senate chamber [1, 2, 3]. Despite being siblings, Marcos said she has a "non-existent" relationship with her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and last spoke to him three years ago at her son’s birthday party [1, 2, 3].
Tensions between President Marcos Jr. and Vice-President Duterte have escalated following their landslide joint-ticket win in the 2022 election. This division manifested in a Senate walkout by the minority bloc on May 26, 2026, triggered by a dispute over rules for remote participation in sessions [1, 2].
The Senate impeachment trial requires a two-thirds majority vote to convict Duterte. A conviction would result in her removal from office and permanent disqualification from holding political posts [1, 2]. Marcos hopes the trial will focus strictly on relevant evidence and be concluded by September 2026 [1, 2, 3].
Marcos additionally warned of broader economic concerns, saying, "Stagflation is around the corner. It’s a very scary moment for Filipinos" [3].
The impeachment trial is scheduled to begin in July 2026.
