ILOILO City — Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Panay intensified its opposition to Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s plan to seek the presidency in 2028, declaring she has “no moral ascendancy” to run and raising sweeping concerns over corruption allegations, her performance as Education secretary, and the broader human rights legacy of the Duterte administration.
The statement came after Duterte-Carpio announced two days ago — more than two years before the 2028 elections — that she is ready to “offer her life” for the presidency, a declaration that drew cheers from staunch supporters but also renewed scrutiny from critics questioning her fitness for the country’s highest post.
BAYAN Panay secretary-general Elmer Forro said the group was not surprised by Duterte-Carpio’s declaration but stressed that serious accountability issues remain unresolved.
“Daw waay sang moral ascendancy nga magpadalagan bangod una bes waay pa gani na+atubang ang kaso o ang impeachment didto sa Congress wherein nakitaan sia sang anomaliya o kurapsyon sa confidential fund sang panahon nga sia DepEd Secretary,” Forro said.
Lawmakers questioned the reported spending of P125 million in confidential funds within 11 days in 2022, citing acknowledgment receipts and documentation issues.
Questions were also raised over the use of P612.5 million in confidential funds until 2023.
“These are not trivial accusations,” the group stressed, arguing that public office demands full transparency and accountability, especially when it involves hundreds of millions in public money.
Forro described Duterte-Carpio’s possible candidacy as “very disturbing” and “indi nagakadapat,” citing what he called her troubling track record.
The group criticized her stint as Education secretary, saying her leadership failed to decisively address the country’s worsening education crisis.
The Philippines continued to rank among the lowest-performing countries in reading, mathematics, and science in international assessments such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), with teachers’ groups repeatedly flagging overcrowded classrooms, lack of facilities, and insufficient support for educators.
BAYAN Panay questioned the allocation of confidential funds to DepEd — an agency not primarily tasked with security — at a time when resources were urgently needed for classrooms, books, and teacher support. “Our children deserve better,” the group said.
Forro also invoked the human rights record of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands, facing charges related to crimes against humanity.
“Plus pa gid ang record sang amay nga number one human rights violator kag ara na gani sa The Hague because sang crimes against humanity nga gina-trial. Ang mga Duterte waay kinamatarong nga magpadalagan,” Forro added.
The group said the Duterte brand of governance normalized threats, hostility toward dissent, and what it described as a climate of fear during the anti-drug campaign, which is now under investigation by the International Criminal Court.
Forro suggested that Duterte-Carpio’s early announcement of her 2028 bid may be politically calculated.
“Indi naton gusto nga makabenepisyo ini sa mga Duterte tungod sa malala man nga record. So, either sa ila nga duha wala sang kinamatarong nga magpadalagan bilang president sang punsgod,” he said.
The group argued that running for president does not erase unresolved issues or clear impeachment complaints, stressing that accountability is a constitutional process, not political harassment.
Forro said BAYAN Panay and other cause-oriented groups would “double time” efforts to inform the public about what they view as the risks of a Duterte return to Malacañang.
He cited the February 25 mobilization marking the 40th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution as an opportunity to remind the public of what they described as the Duterte family’s record.
While reiterating that BAYAN Panay is not endorsing any presidential candidate at this time, Forro said the Filipino people must demand transparency, competence, and respect for human rights from anyone aspiring to lead the nation./PN
