About 200 to 300 protesters from youth, religious, and other sectoral groups gathered outside the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday to demand accountability over allegations of unexplained wealth against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Carrying the call “Hatol ng Kabataan: Sapat ang Ebidensya! (The Youth’s Verdict: The Evidence Is Sufficient!) Convict VP Sara!”, the demonstrators pressed for Duterte’s conviction in the ongoing Senate impeachment trial and her disqualification from holding future public office.
Timothy Cristobal, 21, lead convenor of the mobilization, said the protest brought together various groups concerned about the allegations raised during the impeachment proceedings.
Cristobal said the demonstrators were focusing on the unexplained wealth allegations following the House of Representatives prosecution panel’s withdrawal of several articles of impeachment.
He cited financial transaction records presented during the proceedings and alleged discrepancies in Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), which he said warranted closer scrutiny.
Cristobal also raised concerns over allegations involving financial transactions linked to China, arguing that questions surrounding the Vice President’s wealth and business interests must be addressed.
The allegations remain subject to the impeachment court’s evaluation and have not been established as findings of guilt.
The protest came a day after the House prosecution panel moved to withdraw three of the four impeachment charges against Duterte, leaving the unexplained wealth allegation as the central issue in the trial.
Civil engineering student Rafael Cerillo, 20, said the participation of young Filipinos reflected growing concern over accountability and the example set by elected officials.
“Ang kabataan nga po ay pag-asa ng bayan (The youth are the hope of the nation),” Cerillo said.
He also questioned the OVP’s expenditure of PHP125 million in confidential funds within 11 days, an issue previously examined during the impeachment proceedings.
Cerillo described the withdrawal of some impeachment articles as a possible prosecution strategy to concentrate on what he believed was the stronger case involving unexplained wealth.
The rally followed a separate demonstration outside the Senate on Monday, when civil society groups also demanded Duterte’s conviction as the prosecution concluded its presentation of evidence.
Cristobal said the protesters would continue pressing for accountability, arguing that the outcome of the proceedings could have lasting consequences for the country’s younger generation. (PNA)