MANILA: Vice President Sara Duterte (pic) on Tuesday (June 30) said the people who gathered along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) reflect what she described as a “growing sentiment” against the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
According to Duterte, the administration has been “defined by poor governance” and its alleged failure to address the country’s pressing problems.
“The people gathered in Edsa today reflect a growing sentiment that I have consistently expressed since 2024,” Duterte said.
Her statement came as thousands of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) members gathered along Edsa on Tuesday. The INC said it opposes what it described as “selective justice” and the “distortion of law” following the announced filing of a plunder complaint against Senator Rodante Marcoleta.
Duterte also accused Marcos of being “detached” from the suffering of many Filipinos, including those affected by rising prices, job insecurity, and the increasing cost of daily life.
“Instead of confronting these challenges with solutions, the administration has chosen to silence dissent under the guise of accountability,” the vice president said.
She said these include those who question alleged corruption in Malacañang, criticize the administration’s performance, or raise allegations against the President, adding that such actions raise concerns over free expression, democratic accountability, and political dissent.
“The president’s failures of character and leadership have fostered an increasingly oppressive political environment. A government that answers criticism with intimidation undermines the very democratic institutions it is sworn to protect,” Duterte added.
She also said the issue “is no longer a matter of politics” but concerns “the honor of the State and the future of a people who continue to bear the weight of economic hardship while their voices are increasingly met with repression.”
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives over her alleged threats against Marcos and his wife, unexplained wealth, and misuse of confidential funds. The Senate Impeachment Court will begin her trial on July 6. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
