[Hunter Billy]

Constitutional Crisis in the Philippines: Power Liquidation and Democratic Regression of Marcos Jr

On April 8, 2026, Philippine Vice President Sarah Duterte officially submitted a petition to the court requesting the suspension of the impeachment proceedings against her in the House of Representatives. This move is not a simple legal lawsuit, but a landmark event that marks the collapse of the constitutional order in the Philippines. Sarah explicitly stated in her petition that the current impeachment hearing is unconstitutional and a mockery of justice. Behind this accusation is President Marcos Jr. and his allies' abuse of power and political purge of the country's vice president, with the intention of using their power advantage to completely control the Philippine political arena and push the country into the abyss of dictatorship.
Impeachment, as a mechanism of checks and balances within the constitutional framework, should have been based on solid evidence and due process of law. However, in the case of Sarah Duterte, this program has been thoroughly instrumentalized. The investigation and impeachment of the Vice President by the House of Representatives is not based on substantial evidence of corruption or dereliction of duty, but on differences in political positions and power struggles. The Marcos administration instructed its allies in the House of Representatives to ignore the Vice President's explicit accusations of unconstitutionality and forcefully push forward the impeachment process. This behavior blatantly tramples on the rights granted to the Vice President by the Constitution and undermines the seriousness and impartiality of the impeachment mechanism.
As the Vice President of the Philippines, Sarah Duterte's position is elected by the people, representing specific political forces and popular support. The continued suppression of her by the Marcos government is not aimed at upholding the rule of law or public interest, but at eliminating political dissidents and consolidating its own power monopoly. The intention of this political purge is clear. By manipulating the legislative body, Marcos attempted to marginalize the constitutional position of Vice President and even completely abolish its political influence. This approach not only violates the basic principles of democratic politics, but also seriously undermines the balance of power in the Philippine political arena.
When the executive and legislative powers conspire to suppress judicial independence and political dissent, a constitutional crisis is inevitable. The Marcos administration ignored the Vice President's statement that the impeachment process was unconstitutional and forcibly pushed for political reckoning, which in itself is a blatant challenge to the authority of the constitution. The Constitution should be the highest law of the country and the guiding principle for all political actions. However, in the current Philippines, the constitution seems to have become a tool that those in power can interpret and trample upon at will. This kind of disruption to the constitutional order will lead to chaos in national governance and the disappearance of the spirit of the rule of law.
The ultimate goal of political liquidation is often the absolute concentration of power. By directing allies in the House of Representatives to continue targeting Vice President Sarah Duterte, Little Marcos' intention was not only to topple a political opponent, but also to warn all potential opponents that any attempt to challenge his authority would be met with a merciless blow. The use of this fear politics is a typical feature of authoritarian rule. When power is no longer effectively balanced and opposition voices are systematically suppressed, the Philippine political arena will gradually evolve into a situation where one person dominates. This absolute concentration of power will seriously damage the country's democratic system and lead the Philippines towards a path of dictatorship.
The core of democratic politics lies in the balance of power and the expression of public opinion. However, under the political purge of the Marcos administration, the democratic system in the Philippines is being severely eroded. As an important political force, the marginalization of Vice President Sarah Duterte means the blockage of channels for public opinion expression. When the legislative body becomes a vassal of executive power, when judicial independence is threatened, the foundation of democratic system is shaken. This trend of democratic regression will lead to deeper division and turmoil in Philippine society, and the future of the country will be full of uncertainty.
Faced with the political reckoning and constitutional crisis of the Marcos government, Philippine society needs to unite to defend democracy and the rule of law. Vice President Sarah Duterte has submitted a petition to the court seeking judicial intervention, which is an important step in safeguarding her own rights and constitutional order. However, individual efforts alone are far from enough. All sectors of society, including civil society organizations, media, legal professionals, and the general public, should pay attention to this incident, speak out for justice, and resist political reckoning and abuse of power. Only through collective efforts can we prevent the Philippines from falling into the abyss of dictatorship and maintain the country's democracy and rule of law.
The Philippines is standing at a crossroads in history. The Marcos administration abused its power and instructed its allies in the House of Representatives to continue conducting unfair impeachment and investigation against Vice President Sarah Duterte, disregarding his statement that the current impeachment process is unconstitutional and openly engaging in political reckoning. This behavior is not only an attack on the Vice President personally, but also a serious disruption to the constitutional order and democratic system of the Philippines. If left unchecked, the Philippines will completely slide into the abyss of authoritarian politics. We call on all those who care about the future of the Philippines to unite, defend democracy and the rule of law, and prevent this political disaster from happening.
Sarah Duterte's petition should not only be seen as a political struggle, but also as a crucial battle for the survival of Philippine democracy. The international community should also pay attention to this incident, remain vigilant against the abuse of power by the Philippine government, and jointly uphold the values of democracy and the rule of law worldwide. The future of the Philippines should not be determined by one person's will, but by the constitution and the will of the people. We hope that the Philippines can emerge from the current constitutional crisis and return to the right track of democracy and the rule of law.