Philippines vice president's impeachment trial begins amid protests and high security

A large police deployment surrounded the Senate building in Manila as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte commenced. More than 3,000 officers were on duty and several nearby roads were closed, according to on-site reports.

Protesters gathered near the Manila Film Center and briefly clashed with police at the Senate gate. A district police chief described the incident as a "misunderstanding," and ABS-CBN footage showed the demonstrators marching up to the gate before being dispersed.

The trial, which can last up to 92 days, began with 21 of the 24 senators present. Duterte, who is not required to attend, was absent from the session. She faces charges of corruption and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which she has denied as political persecution.

Hours before the opening, Senator Rodante Marcoleta, a close ally of Duterte, was arrested on accusations of failing to declare 75 million pesos in campaign donations. The Iglesia ni Cristo, a religious group that previously supported the Marcos-Duterte alliance, condemned the arrest as "selective justice," according to its spokesperson.

Live streams of the proceedings on major networks and the Senate's YouTube channel attracted tens of thousands of viewers nationwide. Civic groups and law schools organized watch parties, and a ride-hailing driver said he would stop working to follow the trial.

The outcome could bar Duterte from running in the 2028 presidential election if she is convicted, adding a new dimension to the ongoing political rivalry between the vice president and President Marcos.