ILOILO City — A student-led organization in Western Visayas has intensified calls for accountability – demanding the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and the arrest of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa over allegations of corruption and human rights violations.
In a statement, the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) Panay accused the government of perpetuating what it described as a culture of “impunity and corruption. It urged the youth and the public to actively push for justice and transparency.
“The time for reckoning has arrived,” the group declared as it pressed for Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment over her alleged refusal to explain controversial government expenditures and what the organization called her “disdain for transparency.”
“The Duterte camp claims that impeachment is a ‘distraction,’ but the truth is clear: accountability is a public concern. There is no greater service to the people than ensuring those in power are held liable for their actions,” the organization wrote.
“Impeachment is not a ‘conspiracy’—it is a necessary step to end the culture of impunity and corruption,” it added.
NUSP Panay also demanded that Dela Rosa be turned over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his alleged role in the previous Duterte administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign, which has long drawn criticism from human rights groups and international observers.
“He must answer to the people and the families who have long been denied justice,” the group stressed.
The organization said the mounting criticism against Dela Rosa reflects growing frustration over unresolved allegations of state-sponsored violence and the continuing clamor for justice from families affected by the bloody anti-drug operations.
NUSP Panay further called on students across the region to unite in opposing what it described as “bureaucratic exploitation” and to strengthen public participation in the fight against corruption and abuse of power.
The student organization also widened its criticism to include previous administrations, saying the struggle for accountability goes beyond present political figures and includes confronting historical injustices linked to past regimes.
“As the political climate in the Philippines continues to evolve, the demand for justice from the youth serves as a critical reminder of the power of civic engagement and the necessity for accountability in governance,” the group said./PN
