đź“·: Koalisyong Makabayan | FB
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) joined today’s rally and renewed calls for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing that the Supreme Court’s ruling on the previous impeachment attempt does not clear her of accountability for alleged misuse of public funds.
ACT said the Court’s decision last year dealt with procedural issues and did not amount to an acquittal on the serious allegations surrounding anomalous expenditures under Duterte’s watch, particularly during her tenure at the Department of Education and in the Office of the Vice President.
“The ruling does not erase unanswered questions about public money,” ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo said. “It does not absolve officials from responsibility, nor does it extinguish the people’s right to demand truth and accountability.”
ACT underscored that allegations involving millions or even billions of pesos in questionable spending must be fully investigated, prosecuted, and punished if proven true.
“Hindi ito usapin ng halaga,” Bernardo said. “Bilyon man o kahit piso, ang paglustay sa pondo ng bayan ay krimen na dapat imbestigahan at panagutin.”
The group pointed out that Duterte’s leadership of the education sector was marked by deepening crises—overcrowded classrooms, unresolved shortages, declining learning outcomes, and worsening conditions for teachers—while accountability remained elusive.
“Nasaksihan natin kung gaano kapalpak ang pamumuno ni Sara Duterte sa DepEd,” Bernardo said. “Imbes na tugunan ang krisis sa edukasyon, iniwan niyang mas malala ang kalagayan ng mga guro at mag-aaral.”
ACT also flagged the continuing lack of clear and credible explanation for the reported ₱615 million in confidential funds disbursed under the Office of the Vice President.
“Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring malinaw na paliwanag sa ₱615 milyon na confidential funds,” Bernardo said. “Hindi puwedeng takpan ng teknikalidad o palusot ang ganitong kalaking halaga.”
ACT rejected attempts to reframe or water down demands for accountability and said calls for impeachment reflect a broader public clamor against corruption and abuse of power.
The group added that the failure to hold Sara Duterte accountable reflects a broader pattern under the Marcos administration, where questions of public spending and abuse of power are repeatedly met with delay, deflection, and technical excuses rather than transparency.
“Walang pinag-iba ang mga naghaharing pamilya sa poder,” Bernardo said. “Paulit-ulit na katiwalian, paulit-ulit na pagyurak sa interes ng mamamayan.”
ACT called on teachers, education workers, and the broader public to continue collective action not only for accountability, but for systemic change.
“Hindi lang pagpapalit ng pangalan ang kailangan,” Bernardo said. “Kailangang baguhin ang bulok na sistema. Ipagpatuloy ang pakikibaka para sa pambansang demokrasya at igiit ang adyenda ng mamamayan bilang tunay na alternatibo sa paghahari ng mga dinastiyang pulitikal.”
ACT affirmed its commitment to stand with the people in the ongoing struggle for transparency, justice, and genuine structural change.#
