Hundreds of members from organizations under the Bantay Impeachment alliance protested in front of the Senate on the first day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on July 6. Together with the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), they called for holding Duterte accountable for rampant corruption and the squandering of public funds.

Inside the Senate, the trial opened with the selection of the court’s presiding officer. The prosecution laid out the grounds for the complaint, asserting that there is clear evidence regarding the spending of controversial confidential funds and other funds without proper authorization, blatantly violating the constitution and public trust. The only defense from Duterte’s lawyers was claiming the accusations are mere political harassment and the complaints had no legal basis. According to the prosecution, this did not answer the allegations. Efforts by pro-Duterte senators to derail the trial were also apparent.

Amid the clash, the friction between the ruling Marcos and Duterte factions was exposed. The chosen presiding officer, Sen. Chiz Escudero, emphasized that the court would follow the rule requiring a two-thirds vote, or 16 senators, to remove Duterte from office. Currently, only 13 senators on the side of the “majority” are seen to vote for impeachment, while nine are staunch allies of the Duterte family. Two pro-Duterte senators have already been jailed by the Marcos regime on plunder and corruption charges, and several of their colleagues face looming cases.

Outside the Senate, Bayan stressed that the trial should not merely end up as a squabble between factions of the ruling class. It said all evidence against Duterte must be presented to the court and the public. The people will not allow any cover-up or washing of hands to protect Duterte from the cry for justice.

Progressive groups have no illusions about the Marcos regime. “Sara Duterte’s impeachment cannot cover up the billions in kickbacks by Bongbong Marcos from flood control projects and other government projects,” KMU said.

“The entrenched corruption engendered by the system of bureaucrat capitalism extends across competing political clans and factions, starting with the Marcoses and their own network of big comprador and landlord-led political parties and dynasties,” Bayan stated. They systematically plunder public funds and use their positions in the bureaucracy to amass wealth and power, the group said.