CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A labor leader in Northern Mindanao on Friday said government accountability should extend beyond the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing that workers’ long-standing concerns must not be sidelined amid escalating political tensions.
NAGKAISA, one of the country’s largest labor coalitions, issued the statement as impeachment proceedings against Duterte move closer to a possible Senate trial following developments at the House Committee on Justice.
Joel Tongco, president of the Macajalar Labor Union-FFW, said accountability should apply equally to all public officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Duterte.
“We are for accountability—not only for VP Sara, but for all government officials, including PBBM. Walay exempted, walay VIP lane sa pananagutan o pagpatubag,” Tongco said.
He warned, however, that workers’ issues should not be drowned out by political conflicts.
“Pero unta, sa kasaba sa pulitika, dili malunos ang tingog sa gigutom nga tiyan sa mga mamumuo,” he added.
For workers and minimum wage earners, labor groups said the pressing concerns remain unchanged: higher wages amid rising fuel, food, and utility costs, the abolition of contractualization or “endo,” and justice for slain labor leaders and organizers.
Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers, said labor justice must remain part of the national accountability discussion.
“Kay kung accountability ang hisgutan, apil dapat ang hustisya sa mga mamumuo,” Tongco said.
In a separate statement, Matula clarified that the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling on the impeachment issue did not absolve Duterte of the allegations but merely dismissed the earlier complaint on procedural grounds under the one-year bar rule.
“Impeachment is not persecution. It is the constitutional road for holding impeachable officers accountable,” Matula said.
The coalition said allegations involving confidential funds, unexplained wealth, abuse of authority, and alleged threats against top government officials should undergo proper constitutional and legal processes.
At the same time, Rene Magtubo urged the administration and Congress to prioritize pending labor measures, including the proposed ₱200 wage hike and reforms pushing for a national minimum wage system.
The coalition also called for stronger action against corruption and misuse of public funds, stressing that no public official should be beyond accountability in a democracy.
