The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) stands in unwavering solidarity with the Filipino people’s demand to hold Vice President Sara Duterte accountable through the impeachment process.
The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) stands in unwavering solidarity with the Filipino people’s demand to hold Vice President Sara Duterte accountable through the impeachment process.
From the very first day of her impeachment trial, Sara Duterte refused to appear before the Senate impeachment court. Rather than face the charges against her and answer to the Filipino people, she instead surfaced days later in a carefully staged press conference, delivering vague, evasive, and misleading statements designed to deflect accountability instead of addressing the serious allegations she faces.
“Sara Duterte’s statements were filled with political theatrics, yet she failed to provide a clear and credible explanation for the billions of pesos in public funds allegedly squandered or disbursed without proper accountability. Like her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte – whose administration was marred by controversies such as the Pharmally scandal and other corruption allegations – she continues to embody a culture of impunity, abuse of power, and plunder of the people’s money. The Filipino people deserve truth, transparency, and justice, not empty rhetoric and calculated deception,” said Patricia Fox, Spokesperson of APCHRP.
Duterte is currently facing multiple grounds for impeachment, including the controversial misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds – ₱500 million allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and ₱112.5 million to the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as its secretary. She is also under scrutiny for her unexplained wealth and her failure to declare her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) from 2022 to 2024.
“This is the true face of bureaucrat capitalism in the Philippines. Those in public office accumulate wealth through public service, turning government positions into instruments for private enrichment. They profit from the people’s money while millions of Filipinos are driven deeper into poverty. Meanwhile, the Duterte family continues to wallow in luxury, enriching themselves and feeding their greed at the expense of the Filipino people,” added Sr. Pat of APCHRP.
APCHRP and members of the international community closely monitoring the impeachment trial have expressed grave concern over the Senate’s decision to allow Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Rodante Marcoleta, and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to cast their votes despite their failure to fully participate throughout the impeachment proceedings. This decision creates the perception of an uneven process favourable to Vice President Sara Duterte.
APCHRP further maintains that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. must also be held accountable for corruption and betrayal of public trust. The coalition points to controversial flood control projects, unprogrammed appropriations, and the administration’s use of confidential funds – which it notes have also been questioned by critics – as issues that demand public accountability. As President, Marcos Jr. approved these budgets and government programs and therefore bears political responsibility for their implementation.
“President Marcos Jr. is the chief architect of a system that enables corruption. By allowing the misuse of public funds and opening the country’s resources to foreign monopoly interests in exchange for political and economic gain, his administration has institutionalized plunder and kickback politics. While ordinary Filipinos struggle with deepening poverty, those in power continue to enrich themselves through the machinery of government,” said Sr. Pat of APCHRP.
APCHRP expresses its unwavering support to Filipinos’ call for the complete abolition of confidential and intelligence funds, arguing that they have become breeding grounds for corruption, pork-barrel politics, and the abuse of public resources. The coalition also calls on all people, organizations, and human rights advocates across the Asia-Pacific region who oppose corruption to closely monitor the impeachment proceedings, stand in solidarity with the Filipino people’s demand for accountability, and continue to expose and oppose the use of public office as a vehicle for private enrichment rather than genuine public service.
