Impeachment of Duterte Begins: Masses Protest State Corruption and Elite Power Struggles
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The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte opened in Manila under heavy police repression, with grassroots protesters confronting state security forces. The proceedings highlight deep-rooted corruption and the ongoing power games among the political elite, as the people demand accountability.
A massive police presence encircled the Senate building in Manila as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte began, underscoring the government's readiness to suppress dissent. Over 3,000 officers were deployed, and authorities shut down nearby roads, effectively stifling public access and demonstrating the state’s prioritization of elite security over citizens’ rights.
Protesters, representing the frustrated masses, assembled near the Manila Film Center and courageously confronted police at the Senate gate. The authorities downplayed the confrontation as a mere 'misunderstanding,' but footage from ABS-CBN revealed determined demonstrators marching up to the gate before being forcibly dispersed—a clear sign of the regime's intolerance for public dissent.
The trial, expected to last up to 92 days, began with 21 of 24 senators present, reflecting the insular nature of elite politics. Duterte, emblematic of dynastic privilege, was notably absent, even as she faces serious charges of corruption and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—charges she dismisses as 'political persecution,' a familiar refrain among the powerful when held to account.
In a telling move just hours before the trial, Senator Rodante Marcoleta, a staunch Duterte ally, was arrested for failing to declare 75 million pesos in campaign donations. The Iglesia ni Cristo, a religious institution historically aligned with the ruling bloc, condemned the arrest as 'selective justice,' exposing the fractures within the elite and the manipulation of justice for political ends.
Tens of thousands watched live streams of the proceedings, while civic groups and law schools organized watch parties, demonstrating the people’s hunger for transparency and justice. Even workers, like a ride-hailing driver, paused their labor to witness this rare moment of possible accountability.
If convicted, Duterte could be barred from the 2028 presidential race, a potential blow to entrenched dynastic power. The trial thus stands as a battleground between the corrupt elite and the people’s demand for genuine democracy.
