Sara Duterte: EDSA rally reflects growing public frustration with Marcos admin

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said the gathering at the EDSA People Power Monument reflects what she described as the growing public dissatisfaction with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In a statement, Duterte said the demonstration mirrored concerns she has been raising since 2024, criticizing the administration’s governance and its handling of the country’s economic challenges.

“The people gathered in EDSA today reflect a growing sentiment that I have consistently expressed since 2024,” she said.

Some 10,000 protesters have gathered near the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City. They were calling for accountability and transparency,

Duterte accused the administration of failing to address rising prices, job insecurity, and the increasing cost of living, while claiming that the President has remained detached from the hardships faced by Filipinos.

She also alleged that the administration weaponized the justice system against its critics.

“It has weaponized the justice system by filing cases against and imprisoning individuals who dare speak out against alleged corruption and abuses in Malacañang, question the administration’s competence, or criticize the President, including allegations concerning his drug use,” Duterte said.

She argued that such actions raise concerns about freedom of expression, democratic accountability, and the space for political dissent in the country.

Duterte further said the President’s “failures of character and leadership” have contributed to what she described as an increasingly oppressive political environment.

“A government that answers criticism with intimidation undermines the very democratic institutions it is sworn to protect,” she said.

The Vice President added that the issue goes beyond politics, saying it concerns “the honor of the State” and the future of Filipinos who continue to face economic hardship.

GMA News Online reached out to the Office of the President for comment and will publish it once available. —AOL, GMA News