ILOILO City — Progressive groups stepped up calls for accountability against allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte, demanding at a rally the arrest of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa over alleged crimes against humanity and pressing for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Led by the Movement Against Tyranny (MAT)-Panay and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)-Panay, protesters accused Dela Rosa of being part of what they described as abuses committed during the Duterte administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
The recent rally came amid mounting political pressure on Vice President Duterte after 257 members of the House of Representatives endorsed the impeachment complaint against her.
The impeachment complaint cited allegations of betrayal of public trust, conspiracy to commit murder, and the alleged misuse of confidential funds linked to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Dela Rosa, former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), is facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the bloody anti-drug campaign that claimed thousands of lives.
According to the protesters, the issue is no longer just political but one of justice and accountability.
“There should be no more delayed justice for the rich while the majority of Filipinos, especially those from marginalized sectors, continue to bear the brunt of a justice system that favors those in power,” groups posted on Facebook.
The groups said allowing powerful officials to evade accountability weakens democratic institutions and deepens public distrust in government.
Protesters carried placards demanding the arrest of Dela Rosa and pressing for the impeachment trial of Duterte- Carpio.
The demonstrators said Filipinos deserve a justice system that applies equally to all citizens regardless of status or political influence./PN
