The Makabayan bloc announces its senatorial slate for the 2025 midterm elections at Liwasang Bonifacio during the observance of National Heroes Day on August 26, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — Senatorial candidates of the Makabayan coalition vowed to vote for the conviction of Vice President Sara Duterte at her impeachment trial if they get elected to the Senate, which will try the case in July.

Makabayan's 11-member Senate slate bares legislative agenda

Makabayan Senate bets issued the statement ahead of their miting de avance on Friday night in Quezon City. 

They believe there is strong evidence to support allegations of misuse of confidential funds in Duterte’s office.

The vice president has denied the allegations and blamed politics ahead of a potential run for the presidency in 2028.

“Napakalinaw ng ebidensya… Tungkulin ng Senado na i-convict ang mataas na opisyal na gumawa ng mali,” former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said.

(The evidence is clear... It is the Senate's duty to convict high-ranking officials who have done wrong.)

ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro, a vocal critic of Duterte and of her father former President Rodrigo Duterte, said the midterm elections are crucial because of the looming impeachment trial.

“Dapat [siyang] managot para hindi pamarisan at maging hudyat sa nandarambong sa kaban ng yaman na para sa taumbayan,” Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chair Danilo Ramos said of why the coalition wants a conviction.

(She has to be held accountable to set an example and be a warning to those who would plunder the people's money)

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“We’ll vote to convict Sara Duterte doon sa kanyang paglustay sa kaban ng taumbayan (for squandering the people's money),” Kilusang Mayo Uno Secretary General Jerome Adonis also said.

Amirah Lidasan of Moro and IP rights group Sandugo added members of Makabayan are among the signatories of one of the impeachment four complaints against Duterte.

"Dahil sa talagang ebidensyang nakita natin sa paglustay ng confidential funds at pag-betray ng public trust."

(Because of the evidence that we saw of the waste of the confidential funds and the betrayal of public trust)

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chair Danilo Ramos, Sandugo co-chair Amirah Lidasan and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro visit a coastal community in Barangay Baybay in Santo Tomas, La Union on Apr. 27, 2025. Handout photo

IMPEACH MARCOS JR.?

Some Makabayan senatoriables, meanwhile, expressed doubt that the looming impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will prosper if it is anchored solely on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte through a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

Duterte Youth party-list chairperson Ronald Cardema and his wife Ducielle Marie on Thursday tried but failed to file the first-ever impeachment complaint against Marcos Jr. 

The grounds cited were the President’s alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and his alleged betrayal of public trust, “when he allowed the arrest of Duterte on the basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court”.

“Very clear naman ‘yung pag arrest ng ICC kay former President Duterte na ang dahilan ay ‘yung na-commit niya na violations during kasali pa ang Pilipinas sa ICC,” Adonis said.

(It's very clear that the ICC arrest of former President Duterte are for the violations committed while the Philippines was still part of the ICC)

Kadamay Secertary-General Mimi Doringo added that an it was necessary to go to an international tribunal because of the justice system in the Philippines.

“Kung dito ginawa ‘yung pagpapanagot kay Duetrte sa bansa natin na alam natin kontrolado nila ‘yung justice… maliligtas sila."

(If the bid to hold Duterte accountable was done here where we know they control the justice system, then Duterte and the others would get away with it)

For Castro and Casiño, the attempt to file an impeachment complaint against Marcos Jr. on Thursday was a “political stunt” and a “diversionary tactic” because of the lack of time left in the 19th Congress.

“Paraan na naman ng kampo ng Duterte na idivert ang isyu ng impeachment ni Sara Duterte sa ibang isyu,” Castro said.

(This is another attempt by the Duterte camp to divert the issue of Sara's impeachment to another issue)

ALTERNATIVE CHOICE

Three days before the midterm polls, Makabayan Senate bets remained unfazed by survey results showing none of them made it to the projected winning circle. 

They offered themselves as alternative to candidates, who belong to political dynasties, and urged voters to study their platform.

“May choice ang mga botante. ‘Wag na natin iboto ang mga kampon ng kadiliman, kampon ng kasamaan. All of them are recycled senatorial candidates,” Adonis said. 

(The voters have a choice. Let's not vote for the forces of darkness and evil)

Castro said the situation could still change on election day on Monday if voters decide to elect alternative candidates to the Senate.

Casiño, who has previously run for senator, said that the Makabayan candidates held sorties across the country and saw voters' hunger for change. 

“And we hope that this will be reflected doon sa resulta ng halalan (in the election results)."

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