By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY – A nationwide coalition, including Tindig Pilipinas, Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa, SIKLAB (Simbahan at Komunidad Laban sa Katiwalian), the proponents of the various citizen-led impeachment complaints, and various religious and civil society organizations (CSOs) on Thursday (July 17) called on the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a press conference, Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Tindig Pilipinas, Co-Convenor, said “” ‘Wag i-dismiss! Ituloy ang paglilitis!”
Dr. Claudio cited the alleged stealing of PHP612.5 million in Confidential and Intelligence Funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio “Tony” Carpio (Ret.) said that he join the coalition in calling for the impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte should proceed.
“The impeachment trial of Vice President should forthwith proceed,” Carpio added.
Carpio noted that there are now two pending cases before the SC concerning the impeachment complaint.
The retired Senior Associate Justice explained that the Supreme Court has the sole power to strike down any violation of the Constitution.
Carpio propounded that the House gave the Vice President the opportunity to present her side, but it did not reach the House Committee because more than 1/3 of the House Members signed in the Articles of Impeachment, and hence, it was automatically elevated to the Senate.
The petitions of Atty. Israelito Torreon and Vice President Duterte argued that the 10-day session rule was violated and therefore the impeachment complaint was unconstitutional.
The House informed the Senate Impeachment Court that it complied with the order of the Senate Impeachment Court within the 10-day session rule such that it can act on it until the 10th day.
House Secretary General Renato Velasco said that the lawmakers told him to wait until the fourth complaint is filed in the House.
“As long as there is no TRO from the Supreme Court. The signal of the Supreme Court is to continue with the impeachment trial,” Carpio said.
“I don’t expect the Supreme Court to issue a TRO,” he added.
Rene Magtubo, former Congressman and from Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, said that the impeachment of Vice President Duterte should proceed for accountability and transparency in government.
Magtubo scored the Senate as they were duped for the non-passage into law of the PHP200 legislated wage increase.
The labor leader pointed out that the final impeachment of Vice President Duterte will redound to the benefit of the Filipino people, especially those who are less fortunate in life.
Jhay De Jesus, SIKLAB, said that the IDefend is part of SIKLAB.
De Jesus said that the actions taken by Senate President Francis Chiz Escudero are a blatant normalization of corruption in government.
He added that they will never forget the cover up made by the Senate on the sins of the Vice President.
Khylia Meneses, Youth Resist, said that the youth do not agree with the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte.
“The youth demand a full and transparent trial,” Meneses said.
She added that if the Vice President is not hiding anything, she has nothing to be afraid of.
“We all demand ‘wag i-dismiss. Ituloy ang paglilitis. Say Chi, Ituloy ang trial,” Meneses said.
She slammed that the PHP612.5 million CIF should have been spent for the construction of new 236 classrooms, repair of 1,225 classrooms, computers, 17,500 laptops, 997,000 public school uniforms, and salary of 1,890 teachers.
Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Tindig Pilipinas, Co-Convenor, said that they don’t expect the protest action to cause much traffic in the area of Faura in Manila on July 22, 2025 at 9am.
Rafaela “Paeng” David, Akbayan Party President, said that the Filipino people has already spoken that the impeachment trial of the Vice President should proceed.
“We respect the Supreme Court and in the final score, it will defend the Constitution,”
David said.
“No more excuses. No more Chiz,” she added.
David stressed that the Senate Impeachment Court should not again take advantage of the Supreme Court resolution to delay again the impeachment trial of the Vice President.
“Let the evidence speak and have the trial now. Let the trial proceed,” David said.
Judy Ann Chan Miranda, Kalipunan ng Kilusang Masa, said that the good governance and holding public officials accountable is the responsibility of the lawmakers.
They believed that if the impeachment complaint is dismissed, it will not be on technicality but due to politics.
However, they expect that the success of the impeachment trial will redound to the benefit of the Filipino people.
“Defend, defend the Constitution. ‘Wag idismiss. Ituloy ang paglilitis!” the coalition shouted.
The Global Pinoy, based in Vancouver, Canada, also joined the coalition in calling for the impeachment trial to proceed in the Senate Impeachment Court. ###
