LAGUNA — More than 120 representatives from civil society organizations, church groups, anti-corruption advocates, youth formations, people’s organizations, and concerned citizens gathered on June 13, Sunday, at Claret School in UP Village, with a common message: accountability must not be left to politicians alone.

It was on this day that Bantay Impeachment was formally launched. A nationwide citizen watch campaign that seeks to ensure transparency, public participation, and vigilance as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte approaches.

The initiative emerged amid growing uncertainty over the Senate’s handling of the impeachment proceedings, with organizers warning that leadership disputes and political maneuvering threaten to weaken a constitutional process intended to hold public officials accountable.

For the organizers, the impeachment trial is not simply another political battle in Manila—it is a test of democratic institutions and the Filipino people’s capacity to demand accountability from those in power.

In his opening remarks, Director of Claret School of Quezon City, Fr. Victor F. Sadata said they gather to “raise our collective voice, to refuse to let evil thrive, and to demand accountability.” 

He added, “Impeachment is not just a legal proceeding; it is a constitutional safeguard meant to protect the people. Every peso lost to corruption is a classroom without books, a hospital without medicine, a livelihood program without funding. Every violation of the Constitution chips away at the foundations of our democracy and weakens the institutions meant to serve and protect us.” 

Quoting the well-known maxim that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” Sadaya urged citizens not to remain passive in the face of corruption and abuse of power.

Prof. David San Juan of Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA) and Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KBKK) also said that the Filipino people are more than ready for the impeachment of Sara Duterte.  

“In fact, the process should have begun last year if the impeachment complaint had been pursued with conviction and if procedural technicalities had not been used to delay or obstruct efforts to hold the Vice President accountable,” he said in Filipino. 

“We are here to show that we remain vigilant and that we will not allow major issues of corruption to be pushed aside,” San Juan said. 

In his message, Bishop Gerry Alminaza also said, “We must focus not only on the impeachment chamber, but also on what happens outside the Senate. Our priority must be on making the truth of this process ‘bite-size’, digestible, and accessible to the masses, to the majority.”  

The gathering brought together sectors that rarely converge under one campaign, reflecting a growing consensus among various organizations that public participation is essential in safeguarding the impeachment process.

The event featured discussions from members of the House prosecution team, including 3rd District of Manila Rep. Joel Chua, Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon, and Kabataan Partylist Rep. Renee Co, who provided updates on the case and emphasized the need for sustained public vigilance as the proceedings move forward.

Participants also expressed concern over what they described as attempts to spread disinformation, obscure facts, and politicize the impeachment process. They argued that an informed and engaged citizenry is necessary to ensure that the trial proceeds fairly and is decided based on evidence rather than political pressure.

The campaign outlined three major areas of work: grassroots education and public engagement, impeachment monitoring and strategic communications, and citizen mobilization.

In the coming weeks, Bantay Impeachment plans to organize community forums, campus discussions, daily trial explainers, fact-checking initiatives, livestream analyses of impeachment proceedings, and citizen monitoring activities within the Senate gallery. 

Organizers also announced preparations for a large public mobilization on July 6, the scheduled opening day of the impeachment trial, alongside plans to maintain a sustained citizen presence throughout the proceedings.

The campaign also received support from Seniors Against Corruption (SKK), which issued a statement welcoming the initiative and announcing the endorsement of the National Capital Region chapter of the Federation of Senior Citizen Association of the Philippines.

SKK described the impeachment proceedings as an important step toward holding accountable those accused of enriching themselves at the expense of the public treasury, while pledging to participate in Bantay Impeachment’s future activities, including public gatherings and awareness campaigns scheduled this month.

As the launch concluded, the organizers reiterated that Bantay Impeachment seeks to bridge the gap between legal proceedings inside the Senate and the everyday struggles of ordinary Filipinos.

The coalition called on citizens, institutions, and organizations across the country to participate in monitoring the trial and defending the integrity of the constitutional process.

For those gathered at Claret School, the campaign represents more than an observation effort—it is a declaration that public accountability requires public participation.

As the impeachment trial nears, the coalition vowed to watch closely, speak out against attempts to undermine the proceedings, and ensure that the pursuit of truth and justice remains a matter not only for lawmakers, but for the Filipino people themselves. (With reports from Anne Marxze Umil) (RTS, RVO)