A group of people who want Vice President Sara Duterte impeached has formed a new alliance called the “Peach Coalition.” Their goal is to gain support from both the public and lawmakers for the impeachment complaints already filed in the House of Representatives.
The coalition launched during a special event, a Mass titled “Misa ng Sambayanan: May Kapayapaan Kung May Pananagutan” (Mass of the People: Peace Through Accountability), held at the EDSA Shrine.
Who Attended the Event?
The gathering was led by individuals behind the three impeachment complaints. Several notable figures from the Church also attended, including:
- Sister Lisa Ruedas from the Daughters of Charity
- Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD
- Fr. Joel Sarabia, CM
- Francis “Kiko” Aquino Dee, grandson of Senator Ninoy Aquino
Though Vice President Duterte’s name was not directly mentioned during the Mass, the priests discussed the importance of holding leaders accountable for their actions.
Fr. Angel Cortez stated, “We have a moral duty to ask leaders to explain where public funds are being used. Impeachment is a moral obligation, and that’s why the Church stands with the people today.”
Why Impeachment?
The impeachment complaints accuse the Vice President of misusing over ₱612 million in confidential funds during her time as the head of the Department of Education (DepEd). Concerns were raised after reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) revealed irregularities such as incorrect dates, missing signatory names, and unreadable documents.
VP Duterte has denied any wrongdoing and welcomed the impeachment process, saying it would allow her to defend herself.
Comparison to INC Rally
The event came just days after the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s “National Rally for Peace,” which gathered over a million people. However, critics argued that the INC rally represented only their members’ views and not the sentiments of the broader Filipino public.
Sister Lisa Ruedas explained, “The INC rally does not reflect the voices of all Filipinos who value justice and peace.”
Former Senator Leila de Lima, a spokesperson for one of the impeachment complaints, added that surveys show 41% of Filipinos support the impeachment of the Vice President, a number much larger than the estimated 1.8 million who attended the INC rally.
The Church’s Stand
Fr. Flavie Villanueva emphasized that the Church’s involvement is about supporting truth and accountability, not competing with other groups. “Stealing public funds is like killing the people’s trust,” he said.
Villanueva added, “In Catholic teaching, the Pope reminds us that standing up for what is right in the political arena is part of our faith.”
The Next Steps
The Peach Coalition aims to raise awareness and pressure Congress to act on the impeachment complaints, which were not addressed when sessions resumed. Ruedas urged lawmakers, clergy, and religious groups across the country to join the cause, saying, “We must hold leaders accountable for corruption, greed, and misuse of public money.”
