Despite inclement weather, protesters gathered in front of the Senate building on Wednesday to denounce the upper chamber’s repeated delay of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Senate President Chiz [Francis Escudero] and the 18 senators who pushed to return and once again stall the impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives are once again causing major delays,” said Akbayan Party president Rafaela David in a chance interview, who led over hundred protesters together with Tindig Pilipinas.
They gathered at Diokno Boulevard in front of the Senate building to initially pressure the Senate to convene an impeachment court against Duterte. But Wednesday’s mob turned into a call out against 18 senator-judges who said ‘yes’ to remand the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives.
David said the protest was held to call on the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty, and maybe provide the needed courage for other senators to actually take their role seriously.
“It is clear that this is a blatant violation of our Constitution, we can see that they seem to be backing down again, so maybe they need the strength and support of the people to help them find the courage to stand firm,” she added.
Meanwhile, Tindig Pilipinas co-convener Kiko Aquino Dee said the protesters are calling out the so-called senator-judges for attempting to defend Duterte themselves, showing that they prioritize their own interests over their constitutional duties.
“Where have you ever seen a court where the judge defends the defendant even before the defendant can speak for themselves?” Dee pointed out.
Despite the development, Dee expressed optimism that justice will prevail, stating that history has proven that it is always the people who win in the end.
“It seems that the 18 senators were the ones who won last night, but in the end, throughout the history of the Philippines, it has always been the people who prevail, it is always what is right that triumphs — and that is what we will make sure wins today,” he said.
Also spotted at the mobilization were members of religious organizations, student councils, elderly and Fr. Flavie Villanueva, a Catholic priest supporting victims and kin of the Duterte administration’s drug war.
