As impeachment looms, Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio and her spouse are firing back at allegations of ill-gotten wealth, with the couple’s combative responses seen as damage control over what critics say will be “smoking gun” evidence to be presented to the Senate.

A handful of lawmakers are expecting the House of Representatives to submit Articles of Impeachment against Duterte-Carpio to the Senate soon. “I think she will be impeached by the first week of May. My guess is 160 to 180 [of the 318] legislators will vote ‘yes’,” said Liberal Party MP Edgar Erice.

Congressman Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers Partylist predicted the action would be taken “sometime after May 4 when [the Senate] resumes”.

Once the request is submitted, the 24-member Senate is required by the 1987 constitution to sit as senator-judges and try the vice-president, with Senate President Vicente Sotto III presiding over the trial.

Duterte-Carpio had said as early as January 29 that she and her husband had long retained lawyers. “They were hired as early as the fourth quarter of 2023, the moment that one of the members of the House of Representatives announced that they would file a case against me.”