A broad coalition of civil society organizations, human rights advocates, faith-based groups, legal practitioners, academics, and youth leaders launched a citizen watchdog campaign on Saturday to monitor the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The initiative, titled Bantay Impeachment: A Citizen Watch Campaign for Accountability, Justice, and Truth, was unveiled at Claret School in UP Village, Quezon City, ahead of the expected July 6 start of the Senate impeachment trial.
Organizers said the campaign seeks to encourage active public engagement in the proceedings and push for a transparent and credible trial before the Senate acting as an impeachment court.
Claret School of Quezon City director Rev. Victor Sadaya said the impeachment process goes beyond legal procedure and should be understood as a core democratic accountability mechanism.
“We are gathered today at a decisive moment for our democracy,” Sadaya said, citing concerns over political tensions and leadership disputes that could affect the conduct of the trial.
He stressed that accountability must be treated as a public obligation, saying that misuse of public funds directly affects essential services such as education, healthcare, and livelihood programs.
“Accountability is not optional. It is the lifeblood of democracy,” he said.
The campaign was launched weeks after the House of Representatives voted to impeach Duterte on May 11, 2026, with 257 affirmative votes, 25 negative votes, and nine abstentions. The articles of impeachment were transmitted to the Senate on May 14, which convened as an impeachment court on May 18.
Organizers said the initiative will focus on public education, community discussions, and real-time monitoring of the proceedings, including forums, watch parties, and digital explainers aimed at making the process more accessible to the public.
They also outlined plans for media engagement and rapid response efforts to counter misinformation, alongside possible public mobilizations during key trial dates, including the scheduled July 6 opening of proceedings.
In a video message, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said public vigilance must be active and informed.
“Keeping watch is not passive. It is actively seeking the truth,” he said, urging citizens to look beyond the Senate chamber and remain engaged throughout the process.
Prof. David Michael San Juan of Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot said the campaign reflects growing public demand for scrutiny and accountability.
He urged the public to assess the evidence fairly as the trial unfolds.
House prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua, who also attended the launch, explained that the pre-trial phase will define the structure of the case, including evidence marking, witness lists, and the sequence of arguments, forming what he described as a “road map” for the trial.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co, a House trial spokesperson, also called on citizens, especially the youth, to go beyond passive observation and engage critically with the proceedings, including analyzing the implications on governance and public services.
Organizers said the campaign will continue through the duration of the Senate trial, aiming to ensure that proceedings remain transparent, accountable, and open to public scrutiny.