MANILA, July 6. /Dunyo IA/. The Philippine Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, has begun proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing The Associated Press.

The trial is taking place amid an ongoing political rivalry between the Duterte family and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. More than 6,000 police officers, including anti-riot units, have been deployed around the Senate building as demonstrations by both supporters and opponents of the vice president were expected.

Sara Duterte is accused of misusing public funds, amassing unexplained wealth, bribing public officials, and publicly threatening the lives of President Marcos and his wife. The vice president has denied all allegations.

If convicted, she could be permanently barred from holding public office, jeopardizing her plans to run in the 2028 presidential election.

A conviction requires the support of at least two-thirds of the Senate. According to political analysts, the chances of either side prevailing remain evenly balanced at this stage. In February, more than 215 members of the House of Representatives signed the impeachment complaint and referred it to the Senate.

Observers view the proceedings as part of the continuing political struggle between two of the country's most influential political dynasties. Marcos and Duterte ran on the same ticket in the 2022 elections and won by a landslide, but their alliance later collapsed. Tensions further escalated following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the vice president's father, who is awaiting trial in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity.

The impeachment trial is expected to last 92 days, after which senators will vote on each of the charges. Although impeachment proceedings against senior officials have taken place in the Philippines before, no high-ranking politician has ever been permanently removed from office through the process.