National-democratic groups protested in Pasay City on June 3 to condemn the Senate for deliberately delaying the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. Led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), they called for accountability from the Senate and the immediate start of the trial.
The House of Representatives sent the articles of impeachment against Duterte to the Senate as early as February. At least 240 congressmen signed and supported the fourth impeachment complaint against the vice president for multiple reasons. Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr son Sandro Marcos led the endorsement of the fourth complaint.
The fourth complaint has seven articles. Chief among them is the “conspiracy to kill Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.” Duterte made the threat on November 23, 2024, during the hearing on the anomaly in her spending of confidential funds allocated to her office.
Other grounds include: corruption of ₱615.5 million in confidential funds; bribery and corruption in the Department of Education; unexplained wealth and failure to disclose her assets in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth; involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City, destabilization maneuvers, including her State of the Nation Address boycott and blocking of congressional hearings; and “general conduct” as vice president and the second highest official of the country.
The vote was held on the last day of the regular session of Congress, a month after other groups filed three impeachment complaints. The second was filed by progressive organizations and individuals and endorsed by party-list representatives under the Makabayan Coalition.
Since the signatures obtained exceeded one-third, as required by law, it was sent directly to the Senate. Under the 1987 Constitution, the Senate acts as a court to hear the impeachment case. Duterte will be removed from office if 16 (two-thirds) of the senators vote for it.
According to Bayan, the Senate’s delay in the trial is “a self-serving, shameless, and opportunist maneuver of politicians…for political survival.” They clearly hinder the people’s call for transparency and accountability.
Bayan urged the public to hold vigils and protests to condemn the Senate’s delay and push for the immediate opening of the impeachment court. “This will serve as a reminder that fighting corruption is a concern of ordinary citizens who are deprived of adequate social services since public funds are diverted to the pockets of politicians,” the group said.
Meanwhile, a unity statement was released by at least 204 representatives from various democratic sectors in the country, including 22 religious leaders, prominent writers, student leaders, activists, and others. Led by the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA), they will stage a large demonstration on June 11, coinciding with the day of the Senate hearing.
The University of the Philippines College of Law also urged the Senate to immediately begin the trial in compliance with the constitution of the Philippines.