Opinion: Political Awakening in the Philippines; Protests Demand Accountability from Marcos, Duterte and Congress By Manuel L Caballero

ON MY WATCH

By MANUEL L CABALLERO

POLITICAL AWAKENING IN PH; MASS PROTESTS CONDEMN 2025 BUDGET, DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM MARCOS, DUTERTE, AND CONGRESS; PRESSED FOR IMPEACHMENT OF VP SARA DUTERTE

Some 65 organizations of progressive Filipinos, with thousands of citizens, staged mass protests today, Jan. 31, at the site of the 1986 People Power Revolution in Mandaluyong City and at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. The protestants demanded accountability from top officials of all branches and pressed for the imoeachment of VP Sara Duterte.

The rallyists deplored that President Marcos is the biggest stumbling block to the progress of the impeachment complaints against VP Sara Duterte. "Let’s not forget that P612.5 million in confidential fund of the Office of the Vice President that Sara squandered including P125 million that she wasted in just 11 days." 

Earlier, former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno, speaking on behalf of the Clergy and Citizens for Good Governance (CCGG), strongly condemned government corruption and called for accountability from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, and members of Congress.

In a statement posted on Magno's Facebook account, CCGG alleged that the budget prioritizes corrupt politicians' interests, notably by removing funding for essential services like PhilHealth, forcing citizens to rely on political aid for healthcare. They also decried reduced allocations for the 4Ps Program, a social welfare initiative with strict safeguards against misuse, while increasing funding for financial assistance programs vulnerable to political exploitation.

The group criticized significant allocations for pork barrel projects, describing them as corruption vehicles disguised as public works funding. They further claimed the budget weakened public institutions by cutting funds for priority infrastructure projects, reducing support for hiring teachers and educational modernization, deprioritizing public transportation, and scaling back military modernization efforts.

CCGG outlined demands, including a Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of the 2025 !. They also called for the passage of an Anti-Political Dynasty Law, full transparency in the budget process, disclosure of beneficiaries of government aid programs, and the elimination of all confidential funds.

The group also demanded Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment over the alleged misuse of P125 million in confidential funds. They urged Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro to release findings from an investigation into military aides linked to the funds. Additionally, they pressed for legal action against the Duterte family for alleged crimes, including extrajudicial killings tied to the War on Drugs, and called on the Marcos administration to cooperate with the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte's actions.

In their closing statement, CCGG urged Filipinos to rally against corruption and announced a protest at the EDSA Shrine on Friday, January 31. They declared that true unity, healing, and peace are impossible without justice.

"Binigo na tayo ng Kongreso at mga namamahala sa Executive branch; initsapwera ang kapakanan natin para sa pansarili nilang nga interes! Hinding hindi makakamit ang pagkakaisa, paghilom, at kapayapaan hanggang walang hustisya!"

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