The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Philippines is scheduled to start on Monday. This trial underscores the ongoing struggle between two of the country’s most influential political dynasties.

Duterte, who is the daughter of a former president, faces accusations of embezzlement and threatening to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. These tensions arose four years after these political families had decided to work together in 2022.

After becoming vice president in 2022 on the same ticket as Marcos, Duterte has refuted these charges. She claims these allegations aim to thwart her presidential campaign for 2028. Her father, Rodrigo Duterte, is currently detained in The Hague facing charges related to his controversial drug war.

Duterte’s defense team has criticized the case as lacking constitutional and procedural validity. They argue it is substantively weak.

Similar to the procedure in the United States, the Philippines’ Senate conducts the trial of an impeached official from the House of Representatives.

Duterte has faced impeachment twice. In May, members of the House of Representatives voted largely in favor of her impeachment.