Protesters storm Senate gates: Follow the Constitution

Members of various civil society groups, religious and cause-oriented organizations and opposition parties stormed the Senate complex in Pasay City yesterday to demand the immediate convening of an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte.

- By MARK ERNEST VILLEZA and EJ MACABABBAD

The rallyists included members of Tindig Pilipinas, Nagkaisa labor coalition, Mamamayang Liberal party-list, Kalipunan, as well as student groups and grassroots community organizations. It ended with a multi-faith gathering outside the Senate.

Akbayan party president Rafaela David said the call for the immediate impeachment trial of Duterte has grown into a national movement backed by universities, legal experts and civic groups.

David accused Senate President Francis Escudero and other Senate leaders of stalling the process, apparently to satisfy their political interests.

"Only the Senate leadership stands in the way," David said, adding that "it's time to show courage and follow the Constitution." David also slammed Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino's proposal to limit the trial to 19 days covering only two Articles of Impeachment. She called it "a trap disguised as compromise." Rally organizers said they intend to hold a prayer vigil tonight outside the Senate building and converge again for "day of action for truth and accountability" tomorrow afternoon, when the Senate is expected to kick off the trial with the presentation of articles.

"The ball is in the Senate," representative-elect and former senator Leila de Lima of ML party-list said in Filipino at yesterday's gathering. "But we saw in the past few days how some senators are making various excuses." She said the Senate is "making us fools as if we don't understand what's written in the Constitution." In a phone interview with The STAR, a grandson of democracy stalwarts Cory and Ninoy Aquino said he sees no attempt "at this time" to replicate what transpired during EDSA Dos in 2001, amid the dillydallying over the impeachment trial of Duterte.

Kiko Aquino Dee said he would like to see Duterte, who faces seven impeachment articles, be subjected to the constitutional process. "We're not really looking at the 2001 scenario at this time," he said.