{
  "id": 9285476,
  "title": "Marcos’ ‘existential battle’ with Sara Duterte intensifies in Philippines",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/marcos-existential-battle-with-sara-duterte-intensifies-in-philippines",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T06:22:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3368478/marcos-existential-battle-sara-duterte-intensifies-philippines"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sara Duterte, the impeached vice-president of the Philippines, finds herself in an escalating conflict with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as her allies push to invalidate crucial votes in her Senate trial. The 24-member Senate is deliberating whether to count the votes of several absent senators. Two aligned senators, Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada, have been arrested for corruption, while Ronald dela Rosa has gone into hiding to avoid an arrest warrant. Senator Loren Legarda is on extended medical leave amid an investigation into energy contracts. All have denied the allegations against them. The trial, which has dragged on for 10 weeks, could extend until December. Duterte faces charges of threatening to kill Marcos and his wife, misusing public funds, and accumulating unexplained wealth. The Senate judges are set to hear arguments on whether the constitutional requirement for a two-thirds vote to convict applies to all members or just those present. If the threshold is lowered, Duterte's chances of being convicted increase. Marcos' government is reportedly employing aggressive tactics to ensure a conviction, a move seen as part of an \"existential battle\" with Duterte. This power struggle coincides with the impending 2028 presidential election, where Duterte is seen as a front-runner. Marcos cannot run due to term limits, but his supporters fear Duterte could wield state power against them. The trial has also highlighted ongoing legal troubles for several other Duterte-aligned senators. Prosecutors have highlighted Duterte's alleged threats against Marcos, her aides' large cash withdrawals, and her use of fictitious names to receive funds. Her defense team has countered these claims, alleging harassment and the lack of irregularities in fund usage, and has threatened to appeal the Senate's vote-eligibility ruling if necessary.",
  "summary": "Sara Duterte, the impeached vice-president of the Philippines, is facing an increasing risk of conviction and a lifetime ban on politics, as allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr weigh invalidating key votes of support in her Senate trial. The 24-member Senate, where Duterte is on trial, is expected to debate on Wednesday whether the votes of several absent senators should even be counted. Two…",
  "key_points": [
    "Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte clash in Senate trial over vote eligibility.",
    "Two senators arrested for corruption, one in hiding to avoid warrant.",
    "Senate to decide if two-thirds vote required for Duterte's conviction."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The intensifying conflict between Marcos and Duterte signals a power struggle that could determine the fate of their political careers and influence the 2028 presidential election.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Philippine Senate’s lowering of voting threshold raises stakes for Sara Duterte",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/philippine-senates-lowering-of-voting-threshold-raises-stakes-for",
        "published": "2026-09-23T07:19:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}