MANILA – Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial will start when a new Congress convenes in July, Senate president Francis Escudero said, ruling out the chances of a special session while lawmakers are on election break.

The Philippine lower house on Wednesday impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, the daughter of the country's firebrand former leader, setting the stage for a rare, high-profile trial in the Senate.

The Philippine Senate president says the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will begin after Congress reopens in June and will be done fairly to avoid a repeat of a 2001 impeachment proceeding that stalled and sparked massive protests that forced a president to step down.

In the Philippines, Vice President Sara Duterte has been impeached by House lawmakers and could be removed from office later this year. Duterte has been accused of corruption and misusing millions in public funds and faced widespread backlash after she threatened to have Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Philippine lower house of Congress on Wednesday endorsed an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, the daughter of the country's firebrand former president, paving the way for a rare trial in the Senate.

The development will escalate the quarrel between two of the country's most powerful families. View on euronews