Mass protests call for VP impeachment

Thousands gathered yesterday at the EDSA People Power Monument and EDSA Shrine in Quezon City and at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila to press for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

- By EMMANUEL TUPAS

Clad in white shirts, members of the Magdalo group, Akbayan and allied organizations spearheaded the mass gathering in the morning at the EDSA People Power Monument, while thousands of other participants spilled over to White Plains Avenue and EDSA, according to Col. Melecio Buslig Jr., Quezon City Police District director. Up to 458 police officers from the QCPD provided area and route security.

Carrying placards calling for Duterte's removal, the protesters criticized the leadership of the House of Representatives for not acting on the impeachment complaints.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, who endorsed the first impeachment complaint filed in December 2024, criticized the House leadership for failing to take action on the move to impeach Duterte.

"Anong petsa na? (What date is it already?) January is ending and still, Congress has not acted on the impeachment complaints. Will we allow ourselves to be intimidated by Sara and her flimsy excuses?” Cendaña said.

He stressed the urgency of impeachment proceedings, warning that continued inaction would only further embolden the Vice President to evade accountability.

“The time has come to take decisive action. Every day she remains in office, we allow corruption to thrive in our government,” he added. He said lawmakers should prioritize public good over their political interests.

“Our moral and national obligation must come first, not fear of losing votes in the next election. We have a constitutional duty to remove abusive officials from power,” he pointed out.

The rally, themed “A Gathering for Accountability: Impeach Sara!” began with a mass officiated by Fr. Bong Sarabia and Fr. Joel Saballa.

Other groups present included Tindig Pilipinas, Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list, EveryWoman, August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM), SIKLAB, Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, Kalipunan, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), ASAP and Akbayan Youth.