It is the conflict between the United States and China that is being fought out in the upcoming election, and the impeachment is the opening salvo.

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.

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.

Lawmakers from the Philippines’ House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday. Duterte will face trial before the Senate after the impeachment complaint against her garnered the support of over half of the more than 300 House members.

The president, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, whose father in 20 years as a dictatorial president imposed martial law, is facing off against the

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte says her lawyers are preparing for a legal battle in her upcoming impeachment trial but refused to say if resignation is an option

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.