Manila is preparing for potential unrest as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte begins, with authorities deploying more than 6,000 riot police to guard the Senate complex. The trial, which started on July 6, comes amid escalating political tensions between Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who once allied during the 2022 elections but have since become rivals.

Sara Duterte faces impeachment over allegations that include issuing death threats against President Marcos and accusations of graft and corruption. If convicted, she would be barred from holding public office permanently, effectively ending her ambitions to run for president in 2028. Marcos himself is restricted by term limits from seeking re-election.

Both Duterte and Marcos hail from influential political families with strong right-wing leanings. Duterte is the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration was marked by a highly controversial and lethal anti-drug campaign responsible for thousands of deaths. Rodrigo Duterte was arrested last year under orders from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and transferred to The Hague to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the crackdown. Meanwhile, his former police chief, Ronald dela Rosa, has reportedly gone into hiding following an ICC arrest warrant.

The trial of the vice president comes at a fraught moment in Philippine politics, with concerns that both Duterte and Marcos could mobilize their sizable supporter bases to stage demonstrations or incite violence in the capital. Security forces remain on high alert as the impeachment proceedings advance, highlighting the deep divisions within the country’s political landscape.