Batasan vigil being set to push for VP impeachment

MANILA, Philippines — The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) yesterday asked its members to prepare for a vigil anytime in front of the Batasan complex in Quezon City to push for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a statement, Bayan secretary general Mong Palatino said there is a need to sustain protest action against the House of Representatives for sitting on the three impeachment complaints filed against Duterte in December last year.

“As Congress is about to adjourn for the election campaign, Bayan calls for sustained protest actions to demand the immediate transmittal of the impeachment complaints against Duterte,” Palatino said.

“Marcos should not prevent the supposedly independent Congress from endorsing the impeachment,” Palatino said, adding that the government should certify the wage hike bill as a priority measure.

Palatino said they want a bigger and broader protest that would coincide with the celebration of the 1986 EDSA People Power revolution to highlight the demand for the scrapping of all forms of pork barrel and to condemn the entrenched corruption and continuing tyranny in the country.

Palatino lauded the thousands of people who joined the protest rallies on Friday at the EDSA Shrine in Pasig City, saying it reflects public dissatisfaction and outrage over the inept leadership of Marcos.

“As families reel from the cost of living crisis, Marcos and his allies have designed and passed a budget law with bloated pork barrel funds intended for vote buying. Meanwhile, the citizen-led impeachment initiative aimed at pursuing accountability against corrupt officials like VP Sara Duterte is hostaged by the self-serving machinations of Marcos,” he said.