Church leaders, Catholic educators, and legal scholars across the Philippines have intensified calls for the Senate to immediately begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, denouncing political obstruction and constitutional neglect.
In a statement, the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Commission of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP) condemned what they described as a “deliberate delay” in the proceedings, allegedly led by Duterte-aligned lawmakers and Senate President Chiz Escudero.
“We cannot remain silent while the law is being manipulated and the truth distorted,” the JPIC-CMSP said. “Because of his personal ambition to retain power, Escudero has allowed the Senate—once a respected institution of statesmanship and public service—to be turned into a playground for partisanship.”
The group emphasized that remaining silent amid injustice contradicts the core values of their faith. They argued that failing to confront distortions of truth undermines the Gospel and insisted that transparency should not be feared if there is nothing to conceal.
Caritas Philippines echoed the call, urging lawmakers to act with urgency and integrity.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, national president of Caritas, said the impeachment trial “must no longer be delayed,” adding, “Let us be reminded that ‘justice delayed is justice denied.’”
The prelate said legal processes must be guided by truth, due process, and concern for the poor, and must not serve political or personal agendas.
The Redemptorist missionaries issued an open letter reminding senators of their constitutional duty. Citing Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution, the group said the Senate shall “forthwith proceed to try and decide the case.”
“This is not a suggestion. This is not a request. It is a duty,” the Catholic congregation added.
“Without trial, there is no clarity. Without clarity, there is no justice,” the Redemptorists wrote, urging citizens to hold the Senate accountable. “If we were united in voting, let us also be united in rejecting impunity.”
Catholic legal educators from the five Jesuit-run Ateneo universities—Manila, Davao, Cagayan, Zamboanga, and Naga—joined the mounting pressure with a joint statement on June 8 calling for a “fair, impartial, and speedy disposition of the case.”
“We expressly urge the Senate of the Philippines to immediately commence the impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte-Carpio,” the deans said, citing their duty to form future lawyers committed to truth and justice.
The deans emphasized that “public office is a public trust that must be faithfully respected and protected in the name of the sovereign Filipino people,” warning that accountability should not be “overridden by a resort to obfuscating technicalities and political and/or self-serving maneuverings.”
They also defended the Senate’s role as an impeachment court beyond congressional sessions, citing jurisprudence that classifies impeachment as a continuing, quasi-judicial function.
The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) also joined the chorus of voices urging immediate Senate action, grounding its appeal in both law and faith.
“This is the constitutional imperative as affirmed by legal and constitutional experts. This is the moral imperative, to search for the truth, to defend the impeached, and to uphold the rule of law,” CEAP said in a Pentecost Sunday statement dated June 8.
Calling it a “democratic imperative,” CEAP stressed the importance of “due process, checks and balance, transparency, and public accountability.” It also called on senators to “transcend your personal and political interests, and fight for truth and justice.”
“This was your vow when we elected you,” CEAP said. “This was the promise you made to your God, who blessed you with the power to lead and serve.”
The Senate has been accused of stalling the impeachment process through procedural maneuvers, including resolutions seeking to defer or dismiss the trial—moves critics say undermine its constitutional duty to act without delay.
