Filipinos are inherently peaceful, but they are not blind to the injustices they endure under the hands of corrupt leaders.
The recent rally organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo, attended by over a million people, was labeled as a “National Rally for Peace.” However, its timing and political undertones suggest it served more to shield Vice President Sara Duterte from accountability than to genuinely promote peace.
The timing of this “National Rally for Peace,” coincides suspiciously with mounting pressure on Vice President Duterte to explain the controversial use of confidential funds and other issues raised against her.
Peace without justice is not peace—it is a facade. Filipinos understand that true peace is rooted in accountability and fairness, not in grand displays orchestrated to distract from corruption allegations.
The rally coincided with growing calls for Duterte’s impeachment, driven by alleged misuse of confidential funds and declining educational standards under her watch as Education Secretary. Forty-one percent of Filipinos now support her impeachment, according to a recent Social Weather Stations survey.
Critics argue that this rally is part of a broader attempt to whitewash serious accusations against Duterte and even shield her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, from international and domestic probes.
History offers powerful lessons on the role of justice in achieving unity and peace. South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission helped heal the wounds of apartheid by confronting injustices and giving victims a platform.
Similarly, Argentina’s National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons provided accountability for crimes committed during its military dictatorship.
The National Commission for Truth and Reconciliation in Chile exposed human rights violations to demonstrate that facing difficult truths strengthens rather than weakens a nation’s social fabric.
These examples demonstrate that nations achieve unity only by addressing past wrongs and holding leaders accountable. The Philippines can learn from these efforts.
Filipinos have consistently shown remarkable patience and commitment to peaceful democratic processes, from the People Power Revolution to present-day constitutional mechanisms for accountability.
Yet this peace-loving nature should not be mistaken for naiveté, as evidenced by recent polls showing that 41 percent of Filipinos support impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.
The ongoing impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte—rooted in alleged bribery, plunder, and betrayal of public trust—are not destabilizing acts. They are necessary steps to ensure transparency and accountability.
Political theatrics cannot erase the public’s demand for justice. No rally, no matter how massive, can distract from the truth.
If Vice President Duterte truly values peace and unity, she must address the allegations against her with transparency. Only then can the nation move forward with trust, justice, and genuine harmony.
When political rallies masquerade as peace initiatives while attempting to shield officials from legitimate scrutiny, they insult the intelligence of a people who understand that true peace flows from justice.
The path to national unity requires confronting uncomfortable truths, whether they concern confidential funds, educational system failures, or other matters of public interest.
As one lawyer aptly noted, “Peace without justice is no peace – it’s appeasement to greed, corruption, and impunity.”
