2,000 protesters march to Senate, demand Sara Duterte's conviction

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Akbayan Partylist and several groups marched to the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, calling for the conviction of Vice President Sara Duterte as the impeachment court tackled Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment concerning her alleged unexplained wealth.

More than 2,000 individuals participated in the protest, including Fr. Robert Reyes of the Clergy for Good Governance, Kiko Aquino Dee of Tindig Pilipinas, Magdalo, Mamamayang Liberal, the August Twenty One Movement (ATOM), the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), Everywoman, Kilos Maralita, Partido Manggagawa, Sentro Labor Center, Kalipunan and Akbayan Youth.

“Tapos na ang boksing. Hindi na maiiwasan pa ni Sara ang kaliwa’t kanang bigwas ng katotohanan. Panahon para sa Senado na i-knockout na sa pwesto ang Bise Presidente, na isa sa lantarang simbolo hindi lamang ng katiwalian kundi maging ng kataksilan sa bayan,” Akbayan President Rafaela David said.

(The fight is over. Sara can no longer avoid the relentless blows of truth from all sides. It is time for the Senate to knock the Vice President out of office, as she is one of the blatant symbols not only of corruption but also of betrayal of the nation.)

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) confirmed that a company linked to the Vice President and her husband, Atty Man Carpio, received P319 million from China and Hong Kong, of which P315.93 million came from Mainland China, while P3.39 million was from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.

Transaction records from AMLC also showed that an estimated P4.4 billion went in and out of Carpio’s accounts from 2007 to 2025.

Protesters also questioned the loyalty of the Vice President and her family to the country amid China’s continuing aggression in the West Philippine Sea and harassment of Filipino fisherfolk and frontliners, following the revelations about the couple’s alleged spending and transactions.

“Ninanakawan na nga tayo, pinagtatrayduran pa! Ang bansang kanilang pinagnakawan ay bansang kanila ring binenta sa dayuhan. Sa kanilang kawalan ng hiya, hindi na lang sila akusadong plunderer, china-funded traitor pa!” David said.

(We are being robbed and betrayed at the same time! The country they have stolen from is the same country they have sold out to foreigners. With their shamelessness, they are not just accused of plunder but also of being China-funded traitors!)

In response to the allegation about their ties with China, Duterte questioned the prosecution and asked if doing business with China is prohibited.

"So ano ba talaga? Bawal ba talaga amg negosyo with China kasi it is a national security risk. Parang nakakahiya na nga yung drug haul na papuntang Pilipinas galing Laos and Thailand tapos eto pa tayo na nagsasabing na naku it’s a national security risk na mag negosyo with China. Nagiging troublemaker of Southeast Asia tayo," Duterte said.

(So what is it, then? Is doing business with China really prohibited because it poses a national security risk? It’s already embarrassing that we have a drug shipment bound for the Philippines from Laos and Thailand, and now we’re saying that doing business with China is a national security risk. We’re becoming the troublemaker of Southeast Asia.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA News

READ: Sara Duterte: Prosecution in impeachment trial inventing evidence