Archiving of Sara Duterte's impeachment to spark more protests – group

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate's decision to archive the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte has angered the public and is expected to spark further protests.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) made the declaration on Thursday as it led an indignation protest along Elliptical Avenue in Quezon City.

Members of Bayan held placards bearing the faces of the 19 senators who voted to archive Duterte’s impeachment complaint, depicting them with horns on their heads.

“To our senators who voted to supposedly archive the impeachment: shame on you,” Bayan Secretary-General Mong Palatino said in an interview with the Inquirer.

READ: Protesters troop to Senate as it votes on Sara Duterte impeachment

“Have shame on the people, have some shame on the Filipino taxpayers, because what you did was to dismiss the call for accountability,” he added.

Voting 19-4, with one abstention, the Senate moved to archive the articles of impeachment during the plenary vote on Wednesday night.

READ: How senators voted on the archiving of Sara Duterte’s impeachment case

“What the Senate did was to ignite more protests,” Platino said. “What happened last night in the Senate will only make the people more angry.”

Palatino said the protest action this Thursday was only an initiation protest, while the next demonstration will be at the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday.

“If the Senate doesn't do this, the Supreme Court doesn't want it, Bongbong Marcos doesn't want it, the people themselves will cast judgment,” he added.

The impeachment complaint against Duterte was based on allegations of misuse of confidential funds in her offices, including the Department of Education; threats against ranking officials; and other possible violations of the Constitution.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) also condemned the archiving, saying educators are demanding answers for the alleged misuse of confidential funds and the perceived neglect of basic education.

“We call on teachers, education workers, and all defenders of democracy to continue the struggle for the full public accounting of all public funds and for the removal of corrupt and negligent officials,” ACT said in a statement.

While it believes that the SC must overturn its decision and allow the impeachment to proceed, ACT said "we will not place all our hopes in legal proceedings.”

“We must acknowledge that the fight for justice cannot be won in institutions beholden to the ruling elite,” it said. “It must be waged in the streets, in schools, and in every arena where people can organize and resist.”/mcm

(2025/08/07-13:42)

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