Anakbayan members held a protest action in Quezon City on December 8 to call for the impeachment of Sara Duterte as vice president. They also demanded accountability from former President Rodrigo Duterte for his crimes against the youth and people, and for Ferdinand Marcos Jr to be held accountable for his ineffective and corrupt governance.

“Sara Duterte plundered the public coffers to fill her pockets and oppress the youth,” Anakbayan stated. The group is among 74 individuals and organization representatives that filed an impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives to oust Duterte from office on December 4.

The complaint is based on her “betrayal of public trust,” which centers on three issues: 1) the abuse, misuse, and embezzlement of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds; 2) systematic cover-up of crimes through fabricated reports, receipts, and documents submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA); and 3) deliberate obstruction of congressional investigation and accountability.

Much of the evidence of this betrayal emerged during the Committee on Good Governance and Accountability of Congress hearings which investigated Sara Duterte’s spending of funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). The hearings focused on the anomalous use of both offices’ confidential and intelligence funds (CIF).

In addition to Duterte, Anakbayan is calling for Marcos to be held accountable. “While poverty continues to deepen due to the relentless rise in oil prices, other goods, and cuts in the budget for social services, Marcos continues to destroy the future of the youth,” the group stated.

Leaders from Anakbayan’s chapters in Mindanao also participated in the protest, demanding accountability from the elder Duterte for the destruction of their livelihoods caused by the years of martial law in Mindanao under his regime.

“Anakbayan and its members and chapters across the country, including overseas, are determined to fight for our future by holding the Dutertes and Marcos Jr accountable,” the group stated.