Daughter of former president faces three impeachment complaints over alleged misuse of millions in public funds.Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Manila to demand the impeachment of Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte.
Protesters in the capital held placards calling for Duterte’s removal and chanted “Impeach! Impeach Sara now!” as they gathered on Friday morning. About 4,000 people took part in the rally, police said, with authorities deploying 7,400 riot police.
A bigger rally was held earlier this month by a conservative sect that opposes the impeachment calls that were made in December.
Duterte faces three impeachment complaints over alleged misconduct and misuse of millions of dollars in government funds when she served as education secretary under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Legislators have yet to tackle them just days before Congress adjourns next week before the May midterm elections.
House of Representatives member Percival Cendana, who backs one of the impeachment complaints, pressed his colleagues to move fast. Every day of inaction “condones the impunity, the abuse of power and the harassment that Duterte is doing to our country’s leaders”, he told reporters. Advertisement
An impeachment will only proceed if it is backed by a third of House of Representatives members, and an impeached official can be removed from office by a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
“The Filipino people are here, ready to stand for truth and justice. Let’s not fail them,” Cendana said.
But since th …