House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong has welcomed the launch of Bantay Senado, a citizen-led watchdog group that will monitor the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Adiong said the initiative reflects growing public interest in the Senate proceedings, which he described as a crucial test of transparency, accountability, and democratic institutions.
“We welcome this initiative because citizens have an important role to play in ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the impeachment process,” Adiong said in a statement.
“The impeachment trial is not only about the prosecution, the defense, or the senator-judges. It is a constitutional process being undertaken in the name of the Filipino people,” he added.
Bantay Senado, a non-partisan coalition of students, academics, lawyers, civil society groups, and concerned citizens, was formally launched Monday at De La Salle University Manila.
The group said it will monitor the impeachment proceedings and help ensure that the trial is conducted in a constitutional, fair, impartial, and transparent manner.
Its organizers said they are not taking a position on Duterte’s guilt or innocence, but aim to promote public oversight and a better understanding of the impeachment process.
Adiong said the group’s formation comes at a critical time as the country prepares for one of the most closely watched constitutional proceedings in recent history.
He said the trial will unfold in an information environment heavily shaped by social media, livestreaming platforms, and artificial intelligence, where false or misleading narratives can spread quickly.
“Napakahalaga ng papel ng mamamayan ngayon dahil hindi lang ito laban ng ebidensya sa loob ng impeachment court. Ito rin ay laban para sa katotohanan sa gitna ng napakaraming misinformation at disinformation,” Adiong said.
Adiong has warned that coordinated disinformation efforts could distort public understanding of the trial and weaken confidence in democratic institutions.
He said citizen-led initiatives that encourage public engagement, fact-based discussions, and close monitoring of the proceedings can help counter false narratives and strengthen trust in the constitutional process.
“Ang pinakamahalaga ay manatiling nakatuon ang taumbayan sa mga ebidensya, sa mga katotohanan, at sa proseso na itinatadhana ng Konstitusyon,” he said.
The House of Representatives has impeached Duterte and transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, which has already convened as an impeachment court.
Duterte is accused of misusing confidential funds, amassing unexplained wealth, bribing education officials, and issuing threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
Adiong said public scrutiny would help reinforce the credibility of the impeachment proceedings regardless of the outcome.
“At the end of the day, transparency strengthens trust. The more Filipinos understand and follow the process, the stronger our democratic institutions become,” he said.
Bantay Senado currently has more than 350 volunteers nationwide and plans to conduct public education campaigns, community town halls, volunteer training activities, and trial-monitoring efforts before and during the impeachment trial.