Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Thursday distanced himself from the impeachment of his estranged Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the executive branch of government cannot have a hand in it.

The lower house in the Philippines impeached Vice President Sara Duterte Wednesday, accusing her of a wide range of crimes that included plotting to assassinate the president, large-scale corruption and failing to strongly denounce China’s aggressive actions against Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea.

A conviction would hamper the political ambitions of Sara Duterte, who has said that she would like to succeed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

MANILA – Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial will start when a new Congress convenes in July, Senate president Francis Escudero said, ruling out the chances of a special session while lawmakers are on election break.

The Philippine Senate president says the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will begin after Congress reopens in June and will be done fairly to avoid a repeat of a 2001 impeachment proceeding that stalled and sparked massive protests that forced a president to step down.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte was facing an impeachment trial in the Philippine Senate after the required two-thirds majority of lawmakers voted Wednesday for her to be removed from office am

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Friday she had been preparing since last year for impeachment and would welcome on her defence team her firebrand father, former President Rodrigo Duterte,

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said her lawyers are preparing to fight the impeachment case, signaling she’s ready to defend herself as her feud with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. intensifies.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte refused to say if resignation was an option so she could preempt a possible conviction that would bar her from running for president in the future.