Thousands protested before the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on June 11 to demand accountability of Vice President Sara Duterte in connection with her ongoing impeachment case. The public expressed disappointment at the Senate, which serves as the impeachment court, for apparently protecting Duterte through tactics of deliberately delaying the trial.

The broad protest action was launched by groups such as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Duterte Panagutin Network, Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA), Movement Against Tyranny, Koalisyong Makabayan, and Bunyog Pagkakaisa Party. Labor and church groups and parties also joined the protest.

The groups condemned the pro-Duterte senators and even Senate President Francis Escudero for delaying the trial. The formal opening of the impeachment court was originally set for June 2, after already four months of delay, but it was moved to June 11, the last day of the Senate session.

The House of Representatives sent the articles of impeachment against Duterte to the Senate as early as February. No fewer than 240 congressmen signed and supported the fourth impeachment complaint against the vice president for numerous reasons.

At the urging of several senators, Escudero was forced to convene the impeachment court on June 10. At the same time, Duterte’s ally Senator Bato dela Rosa immediately maneuvered to dismiss the impeachment case. The senators disagreed, but the majority (18 senators) voted in favor of remanding the complaint to the House of Representatives.

The case was remanded to the Lower House supposedly to confirm whether the impeachment process by the congressmen against Duterte followed the constitution. Many denounced the Senate for this and many lawyers and legal experts said that this violated the constitution.

Even the prosecutors appointed by the House of Representatives were confused by the action of the impeachment court. However, the representatives immediately issued House Resolution No. 2346 on June 11 as proof that they followed the constitution in the voting process for impeachment.

“The Senate vote in favor of remanding the impeachment reflects not just the malicious maneuver of pro-Duterte forces but also the dominance of bankrupt politics,” Bayan stated.

Amid this betrayal by the Senate, Bayan said that the protest of the people is just. “The Senate which has become a ‘safe house’ for ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ (a fabricated name that appeared in Duterte’s fake receipts regarding confidential funds) and her co-conspirators,” the group said.

“The continuing failure of the Senate to conduct an impeachment trial highlights the challenges faced by citizens in exacting accountability from corrupt officials. Laws are misused and misinterpreted, the meaning of words is distorted, and compromise is presented as due process,” the group added.

Bayan emphasized that the actions of the Senate only further push the people to fight. “The Senate vote has only emboldened more citizens to speak out and mobilize against corruption, abuse of power, and betrayal of public trust,” the group said.

On the same day, Bayan’s regional chapters led protests in Iloilo City and Bacolod City. Bayan’s member organizations also held demonstrations on June 12 in Cebu City and on June 13 in Baguio City and La Union.

Other groups and alliances also acted against the delay in the trial of Sara Duterte. From June 9 to 11, opposition parties and social democratic organizations held protests and vigils.