Progressives protest SC ruling blocking Sara Duterte impeachment

MANILA — Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA), and allied organizations protest in front of the Supreme Court, demanding to reverse Sara Duterte’s impeachment ruling.

On June 25, the high court blocked the impeachment complaint, deeming it unconstitutional, citing the one-year bar rule, wherein only one complaint can be sent in a year. On August 6, the Senate voted to archive the impeachment, effectively nullifying it.

Progressive organizations denounced these moves as evasions from accountability and responsibility, questioning if the Supreme Court’s intentions are truly in line with what the masses desire. Sister Mary John Mananzan, from Movement Against Tyranny, reiterated that the purpose of the trial is to hold Sara Duterte accountable for the alleged misuse of the confidential and intelligence funds amounting to P612.5 million (approximately $10 million), on top of graft and corruption charges. The P612.5 million worth of taxpayers’ money that could have been spent on social services, agriculture, education, the environment. Reversing the ruling will not only help with Duterte’s conviction, but will expose future corrupt officials to scrutiny and impeachment.

The nullification of the trial highlights the persistent culture of impunity that runs rampant under the Marcos Jr administration. “Like the President and the Senate, the Supreme Court is more concerned with preserving the political status quo than with confronting the urgent task of holding Duterte accountable for betrayal of public trust, bribery, and corruption. This is the kind of collusion that the ruling elites enter into to protect their own and the system that benefit them,” Bayan said in a statement.

Photos by Viggo Sarmago/Bulatlat

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