The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) strongly condemns the brazen Senate coup staged by pro-Duterte forces to derail the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The ouster of Senate President Tito Sotto and the installation of rabid Duterte loyalist Allan Peter Cayetano expose the desperation of the Duterte camp to block accountability and protect the Vice President and the Duterte political dynasty from corruption charges and public scrutiny. The Senators voted 13 for Cayetano, 9 for Sotto and 2 abstentions.

This shameless power grab comes at a time when farmers and ordinary Filipinos continue to suffer from soaring prices, landlessness, low farmgate prices, and deepening poverty. Instead of addressing the people’s urgent demands, self-serving politicians are conspiring to shield corrupt officials and preserve their control over public funds and power.

Impeachment is a constitutional mechanism for accountability and must not be obstructed by political maneuvering and dynastic interests. KMP calls on Senators to uphold truth and justice, heed the people’s demand for the impeachment trial to proceed without delay, and hold all corrupt officials accountable, whether they are Duterte allies or members of the Marcos administration.

Public funds stolen through corruption must be recovered and redirected to genuine public services, agricultural support, and social programs urgently needed by the Filipino people and not wasted on corrupt politicians, confidential funds, and cronies. ###