“Is the Senate not concerned to find out the answers of the Vice President on where she spent the P612 million that they themselves appropriated?”

MANILA – Various groups marched to the Senate of the Philippines on Wednesday, June 11, to express indignation over the remanding of articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives.

In a statement, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that the Senate’s action “reflects not just the malicious maneuver of pro-Duterte forces but also the dominance of bankrupt politics which consigns the pursuit of truth and accountability into a mere transaction and accommodation of vested interests.” 

“The people are justified to protest the betrayal of the Senate which has become a ‘safe house’ for ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ and her co-conspirators in evading accountability. We wanted Sara Duterte to return the anomalous confidential funds, and not the return of the articles of impeachment. We demand accountability, not the remand of the impeachment complaint,” Bayan said in a statement. 

Read: ‘Perilous precedent’ as Senate remands impeachment case to HOR

Bayan Chairperson and former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño assailed the 18 senators who signed the motion to return the articles of impeachment. He said that it is no other than Ferdinand Marcos Jr who does not want the impeachment process to proceed as he has billions in confidential funds. “Marcos is afraid that if Sara Duterte was impeached, he will be the next one.”

Vice President Sara Duterte was impeached at the House of Representatives in February on allegations of corruption, betrayal of public trust and violations of the Constitution. 

In his speech at the protest, former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the question of the people is simple, “Saan napunta ang pera ng bayan?” (Where did the people’s money go?)

He said that the impeachment court is the last accountability mechanism for government officials. He added that impeachable officials like the Vice President are like gods. “They cannot be removed from office unless they are convicted by the impeachment court,” Colmenares said in Filipino.

“Is the Senate not concerned to find out the answers of the Vice President on where she spent the P612 million that they themselves appropriated?” Colmenares said pertaining to the General Appropriations Act that were scrutinized in both houses before it was signed into law. 

Meanwhile, incoming Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Rep. Leila De Lima said that the impeachment trial should be pushed through so that the people can look at the evidence against Vice President Duterte. She criticized the Senate’s action and asked, “What is she supposed to answer if the impeachment case was returned to the House of Representatives? What is the reason [why they returned the case]?”   

“Why all of these maneuvering which is contrary to the very letter and spirit of the Constitution? Imbis na si VP Sara Duterte lang pananagutin natin pagkatapos ng tamang paglilitis, mukhang meron din tayong mga ibang pananagutin,” De Lima said.    

Lawyer Ricky Tomortogo of Bunyog-Pagkakaisa said that June 11 was supposed to be historical as the Senate will read the articles of impeachment. “It was like a dismissal,” he said. 

“Now they are just pretending [they are not dismissing it] and just returning it to the HOR. But if they brazenly dismiss it, what will the people do? Immediately—forthwith—they will take to the streets. That’s when they will understand the meaning of ‘forthwith.’” Tomortogo said. (DAA)