Groups protest Sara Duterte’s 2028 bid, Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC hearing

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By Juliane Judilla

Various groups staged a protest in front of West Visayas State University on Monday, Feb. 23, opposing the early announcement of Vice President Sara Duterte that she intends to run for president in the 2028 national elections.

According to the groups, the vice president’s declaration was “brazen and shameless,” especially as she has yet to address numerous allegations against her. Chief among these are issues surrounding the alleged misuse of PHP 612.5 million in funds from the Department of Education when she was serving as its secretary, as well as questions regarding her use of confidential and intelligence funds.

Pamatan-on Kontra Korapsyon (PAKK) criticized Duterte for announcing her presidential bid while facing an impeachment complaint and unresolved allegations.

“This is a shameless and blatant insult to the people,” the group said.

“Up to now, she is facing an impeachment complaint and has not answered the allegations against her: the questionable and non-transparent receipts such as those under the name ‘Mary Grace Piattos,’ whose identity has yet to be proven; the PHP 612.5 million in Confidential and Intelligence Funds she allegedly spent, including PHP 125 million reportedly used up in just 11 days; and the cases involving her father, who is currently in The Hague facing charges of crimes against humanity,” they added.

The protesters called on the vice president to first address the allegations and legal challenges against her before pursuing higher office.

The protest also coincided with the confirmation-of-charges hearing in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s case, which was scheduled to open on Feb. 23 before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.

The hearing will take place on Feb. 23, 24, 26 and 27. The Prosecution, the Defence and the Legal Representatives of Victims will make oral submissions before the judges to present their arguments on the merits of the case.

The former president was arrested in March last year by the ICC for crimes against humanity. He is alleged to be responsible for over 12,000 deaths in his state-sponsored drug war, which took place from 2016 to 2022. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 2,555 of these killings were directly attributed to the Philippine National Police, highlighting the systemic nature of the violence. One notable case was that of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, who was killed and labeled as a drug user by the PNP in 2017.

The groups noted that delos Santos’ case is just one of hundreds of children who were victims of the bloody drug war and have yet to obtain justice through Duterte’s conviction.

“Duterte the father [Rodrigo Duterte] is killing the future of the youth,” Arlie Bosque of PAKK said.

“Duterte the daughter [Sara Duterte] is stealing the future of the youth by squandering funds that are meant for the youth,” they added.