Yes, Filipinos “deserve better,” as Vice President Sara Duterte has repeatedly said in recent weeks. But no, she is not the “better alternative,” even if she confidently declares that “there’s no question about [her] readiness” to assume the presidency should President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. step down.
This is precisely why groups calling for transparency and accountability, not only in the corruption-ridden flood control projects but also in broader government spending, remain divided on whether the country’s top leaders should resign.
“Marcos, Duterte, walang pinag-iba,” protesters chanted in rallies led by church-based organizations at the People Power Monument on EDSA and by progressive groups at Rizal Park. While united in holding Marcos accountable for the deepening corruption in government, organizers of the Trillion Peso March have made it clear: they are “not” demanding the president’s resignation yet.
Why? Because a forced resignation raises the likelihood of a Duterte presidency, a scenario some retired police and military officers are reportedly pushing for under the constitutional line of succession.
“We’re not pro-anyone, and we’re kind of anti-everyone,” Kiko Aquino Dee, grandson of the late president Cory Aquino and one of the organizers, said in a media interview.
Meanwhile, those gathered in Luneta and Liwasang Bonifacio were unequivocal in demanding the resignation of both Marcos and Duterte, even opening conversations about forming a National Transition Council.
According to Raymond Palatino, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, such a council would be composed of civilians and serve as a “temporary, inclusive, transparent governance mechanism” to guide the country toward “meaningful democratic renewal.”
Like the EDSA protesters, they reject the idea of a Sara Duterte presidency, not only due to political distrust, but because she herself faces unresolved controversies. The P612-million confidential funds spent by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education from 2022 to 2024 remain unexplained. The Articles of Impeachment against her sit quietly in the Senate archives, ready to be revived anytime.
It is worth recalling that in October 2024, Duterte berated Marcos for supposedly not knowing “how to be president,” calling him “Mr. Deception” and giving him a performance score of 1 on a scale of 1 to 10. Yet more than a year later, she has shown no evidence of how she could lead the country, let alone do it better.
At yesterday’s protest actions across the country, sectoral leaders issued one consistent message: Marcos must shape up. They demanded he fulfill his promise to pursue to the end the investigations into anomalous flood control projects and budget insertions, and to ensure that everyone involved — blood relatives included — faces accountability.
Yes, a handful of cases have been filed before the Sandiganbayan and more remain under preliminary investigation at the Office of the Ombudsman. But these are nowhere near enough to calm public outrage over the deep-seated corruption that has long plagued government.
And this is where rhetoric about being “ready” collapses.
In the end, “readiness” is cheap talk. Anyone can claim it. What Filipinos are demanding is something far rarer in our politics: proof of integrity, of competence, of courage to confront allies and cronies, not just critics.
Filipinos are tired of leaders who demand trust yet refuse transparency, who promise accountability yet shield their own, who speak of readiness yet offer no vision beyond survival and spite.
If Sara Duterte insists she is “ready,” the public has every right to ask: ready for what — another round of secrecy, showmanship and selective outrage?
And if Marcos promises to “finish” investigations, then he must prove it not through speeches but through indictments, convictions and the political courage to confront wrongdoing in his own circle.
Until that happens, the streets will stay noisy, the rallies will keep swelling and the public will hold on to the only certainty left in Philippine politics: our leaders may claim they are ready, but the people are far more ready — ready for better than this.
The public has outgrown leaders who confuse entitlement for qualification. They are done being warned about instability while living inside it every day.
So, if our leaders insist they’re ready, the people have only one answer left: show it, better yet, step aside for someone who finally can.
The views in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of VERA Files.
This column also appeared in The Manila Times.
