Members of Bayan (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan) ,a coalition of progressive groups and Tama Na, together with other groups and concerned citizens assembled in front of the Supreme Court building in Manila on August 12, 2025, and demanded a reversal of its ruling that declared unconstitutional the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte submitted by the House of Representatives to the Senate.
Last year, Bayan and numerous non-governmental groups and individuals from different sectors of society pushed for the impeachment of Sara Duterte. Three separate impeachment complaints were submitted to the House in December 2024. These contained misuse of P125 million in confidential funds, “red-tagging” of teachers’ groups in particular the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, and publicly threatening to kill high government officials if she were harmed.
The lower house instead filed it’s own complaint to the Senate after which the Senate formally opened the Impeachment trial. The Supreme Court ruled that the process violated the Constitutional provision that only one impeachment case may be initiated in one year, thereby prompting the Senate to archive the case.
The protesters argued that the court’s ruling was a “glaring overreach” and ignored factual inconsistencies and undermines constitutional accountability.
Teddy Casiño warned that if legal avenues fail,“..this fight will end up in the streets”. This means sustained mass mobilizations, a “people’s power revolution” as has happened several times in the past. Indeed, the impeachment process against Sara Duterte has caused an upsurge in activism dealing with social issues.
In a creative action, youth groups staged a dance protest to SB19’s viral hit “Dungka!”-a cheeky call for the Senate to “doon ka”, meaning to go there and start the trial. The progressive groups, however, have expressed concern that impeachment process could be co-opted by rival factions, particularly the Marcos camp, in the conflict between the power elite groups. They see the impeachment not just a legal battle, but as a struggle against impunity and dynastic politics—systemic issues that the people must confront.
Meanwhile, the reports of international groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch on red-tagging and political repression, misuse of public funds and threats against activists and journalists caught the attention of the global community.
International interest in the accountability of the Duterte family has also been intensified by the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte’s father, by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March 2025 for crimes against humanity. Cause oriented organizations estimate up to 30,000 victims of extrajudicial killings under Duterte’s notorious war-on-drugs, while official police records show only 7,000 killings with only very few investigated.
Duterte’s defense team has applied for his interim release but this was rejected. Preliminary trial was set by the ICC on September 23 this year.
The ICC has reportedly been investigating several Filipino high officials as planners and implementors of Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. Observers say even Sara Duterte may be complicit in the war-on-drugs while Mayor of Davao City.