Senate Delay in Duterte Impeachment: A Threat to Justice and Institutional Integrity | People's Press PH

By Sherman Calotes | Philippine People's Press Editorial 

On May 28, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced the postponement of the presentation of impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte moving the schedule from June 2 to June 11. Escudero justified the delay by citing the Senate's need to finalize over 200 pending executive appointments and act on critical legislative matters before Congress adjourns sine die.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 17, 2025, with 215 affirmative votes well above the one-third threshold required by the Constitution. The articles of impeachment include allegations of the improper use of ₱612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds and an alleged involvement in a conspiracy to harm the President’s family. Duterte has denied all accusations.

According to the legislative calendar, Congress is set to adjourn on June 14, leaving little room for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court, issue a summons, and begin proceedings.

Observers note that if the trial fails to start before adjournment, it could be deferred to the 20th Congress, where Duterte is believed to have greater political support. Only eight Senate votes are needed to acquit her.

The Senate’s decision to delay what should be a swift and constitutionally mandated trial is not only unfortunate it is perilous. While the need to process pending legislation and appointments is real, the prioritization of bureaucratic routine over the country's most high-profile impeachment in recent memory sends the wrong signal to the Filipino people.

Impeachment is not a footnote in the legislative calendar. It is the gravest political process available under our democratic charter to hold top government officials accountable. Any delay no matter how procedural it may appear chips away at public trust and risks converting a solemn constitutional mechanism into a political bargaining chip.

Vice President Duterte deserves a fair trial, not trial by public opinion. But the Filipino people also deserve a functioning justice system that does not wilt under pressure or privilege. A trial delayed this long risks becoming a trial denied.

Some senators may argue that there is no constitutional deadline to begin the trial. Legally, that may be true. But justice  particularly in matters of national significance must not only be done, it must be seen to be done, and done in a timely manner. Deliberate inaction or quiet obstruction will be read for what it is: political shielding, not due process.

If this impeachment trial is deferred into a friendlier Senate, it may never see the light of day. That would be a loss not just for the House of Representatives, which acted decisively and courageously, but for every Filipino who still believes in the principle that no one not even the second highest official in the land is above the law.

The Senate has one final opportunity to rise above partisanship and uphold its constitutional role as an impeachment court. It must act swiftly, transparently, and with resolve before its window closes. History will remember not just the accusations, but who had the will to confront them. Delay is no longer a matter of time. It is a matter of accountability.

Let the Senate prove that our institutions still work not just for the powerful, but for the people.

Philippine People's Press | In Truth We Prevail