Domestic politics, including the potential impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, is unlikely to impact the Philippines’ foreign relations, or the broader international political landscape, including its ties with like-minded allies and China, analysts said.
“Whatever happens in a country, those are internal affairs and such security concerns must be tackled internally by that country’s law enforcement… In general, states can’t intervene in the domestic affairs of another state,” Matteo Piasentini, a political scientist and senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines – Diliman Department of Political Science, told Manila Standard.
Three impeachment complaints were already filed against Duterte in a span of one month. The impeachment complaints against the Vice President cite multiple grounds for her removal, including betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and allegations of graft and corruption, particularly the issue on the P125 million confidential funds in 2022.
The complaints also accuse her of making threats against public officials, such as her recent ‘kill remarks,’ where she revealed she had “contracted” an individual to “assassinate” President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in case her life is endangered. Duterte emphasized that the directive is “no joke.”
Josue Raphael J. Cortez, a lecturer at the School of Diplomacy and Governance at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, suggested that while the potential impeachment may have “no direct impact” on the country’s foreign relations, it could strengthen the Philippines’ legitimacy in the international arena.
“The move, however, may impart a key message to our allies and the international community in general — that the Philippines upholds the rule of law and that no one is above it. This, in turn, can further solidify our legitimacy,” Cortez told Manila Standard.
“One may even speculate that this can help out in our campaign for a UNSC seat for 2027 given that this will show that the public sector is keen on managing allegations that may impede on the country’s peace and security,” he added.
Cortez further observed that despite the Dutertes’ strong alliance with China, a direct retaliatory response “would not be possible.”
Piasentini supported this view, emphasizing that while the Dutertes maintained close ties with China, particularly during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, the impeachment of Vice President Duterte “won’t justify any forms of retaliation or intervention.”
“While great powers like China or the US are influential, we often imagine them as omnipotent, which they’re not. They can support factions under the table, but usually it is also convenient for them to “wait and see” and adjust their policies based on what is happening in a certain country of interest,” Piasentini emphasized.
