MANILA – “Oh no, my parents might see me and I won’t get my allowance,” Nathalie Padre, 19, joked when she was asked if she could be interviewed.

Nathalie was among the hundreds of youth who marched to the Senate on a rainy afternoon on June 11, calling on senators to begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives in February, and the Senate was expected to convene as an impeachment court. However, on June 10, the body voted 18–5 to return the articles of impeachment to the Lower House.

“We are here not because we disobey our parents, but because they are with us in what we are fighting for. Sara Duterte has done nothing, she only advances her own and her family’s personal interests… she blatantly disrespects the Filipino people,” said Nathalie.

Sara Duterte faces charges of graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the constitution for alleged misuse of confidential funds, plotting to assassinate Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., involvement in extrajudicial killings, and incitement to insurrection and public disorder.

Juade Tolentino, a 22-year-old seminarian from the Union Theological Seminary based in Cavite and an indigenous rights advocate, came to Manila with indigenous peoples from Mindoro to join the protest calling for Sara Duterte’s conviction.

The seminarian believes that Duterte has committed several human rights violations and injustices that deeply affect the Mangyan  indigenous peoples.

“The church stands firm to fight for a life of complete happiness where there is no corruption, no theft, no cheating, and where justice, peace, and fairness fully prevail,” said Juade.

Thea Reyes, 21, a student at the National University and a member of the youth group Anakbayan, joined the protest with fellow activists from the south of Metro Manila. She was selling crocheted keychains and stickers made by their members during the rally, saying it was one of their ways in raising funds to sustain their organizing and campaign work.

“We’ve waited so long for the Senate to finally carry out the impeachment of Sara, but based on their decision on the motion yesterday, it seems like they just want to delay the process even more. So, it’s really infuriating,” said Thea.

She said they joined to protest to show their anger because what the Senate did should not be happening.