Once allies during the 2022 elections, Duterte Diehard Supporters (DDS) and Marcos loyalists now differ in their calls during their separate protest actions outside the premises of the Senate as it convenes as a court for the trial of impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Aside from the erstwhile supporters of the UniTeam alliance, members from the left-wing Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) — who reiterated their mantra that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Duterte are “no different” from each other — also staged demonstrations in front of the upper chamber headquarters.
Pro-Marcos Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) movement dared the senators to convict Duterte, while the DDS group Hakbang ng Maisug warned of “zero votes” for senators who will vote to do such a move.
On the other hand, Hakbang ng Maisug protesters hold placards which stated in Filipino: “Make accountable and do not vote for the congressmen and senators who favor the impeachment of VP Inday Sara Duterte.”
Since then, Duterte has been impeached by the House of Representatives twice.
In November 2024, Marcos admitted that he had told House lawmakers not to file an impeachment complaint against Duterte. But on Feb. 5, 2025, the House impeached Duterte for the first time, but the Senate moved to archive the articles of impeachment on Aug. 7 the same year.
“We should not forget that Marcos Jr. is also accountable,” said Bayan president Mong Palatino in his speech. “He is the reason why the impeachment is delayed, because he blocked the impeachment last year.”
Palatino said they made the protest action to remind senators that the people are closely watching their actions.
“So if the Senate does not act, we the people are ready to act,” Palatino said.
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