Leaders of the Catholic and Methodist churches in the Philippines have called on senators to fulfill their constitutional mandate in handling the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The faith leaders warned that political convenience must not override the pursuit of truth and accountability.
The appeal came just hours before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, voted 18–5 on Tuesday night to return the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives.
While the move rejected calls for outright dismissal, it effectively deferred the case for further action by the next Congress.
The motion, introduced by Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano, was described as a procedural compromise aimed at preserving constitutional integrity.
It explicitly stated that the return of the articles “would not constitute dismissal or final judgment.”
“The effect of this is only about four days. It won’t delay the proceedings and will even help the 20th Congress,” Cayetano told reporters, adding that the decision would allow the next legislature to act with “greater clarity and legitimacy.”
In a statement released earlier in the day, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), reminded lawmakers that the impeachment process is “a solemn mandate” and not a matter of political expediency.
“The search for truth is not a political agenda; it is a moral imperative,” said David. “Let conscience guide your actions. Let the truth take its course.”
He cautioned against delaying or obstructing the process, saying such actions would betray both the Constitution and public trust.
“To delay, dismiss, or ignore such a process for reasons of political convenience is to betray the Constitution and the people’s trust,” he said. “As stewards of public office, senators are not only answerable to the law but are also bound in conscience to act with integrity and impartiality.”
Quoting the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, David warned that political authority must not be reduced to serving partisan interests.
“When politics serves only partisan interest, it degenerates into manipulation,” he said. “But when it is guided by conscience and the common good, it becomes a noble service.”
Echoing this call for accountability, the Philippines Central Conference Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church issued a separate statement in support of the impeachment process.
“As a community grounded in faith, justice, and public accountability, the Philippines Central Conference Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church stands with firm conviction in support of the constitutional process of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte,” the statement read.
“The role of impeachment is not political vengeance; rather, it is a constitutional mechanism of moral accountability, grounded in the sacred duty of protecting public trust,” it continued.
The Church body referenced its Social Principles from The Book of Discipline, emphasizing that all forms of government are subject to divine judgment and must be held accountable for safeguarding the innocent and ensuring fundamental freedoms and rights.
The Methodist leadership urged lawmakers in both chambers to act “without delay or compromise” and reminded public servants that “public office is a sacred trust.”
The statement, signed by Pastor Thaad Kolin A. Samson, Rev. Glofie G. Baluntong, and Bishop Israel M. Painit, also called on United Methodists and “all people of good faith” to be “vigilant in prayer, prophetic in speech, and courageous in action.”
“May those who serve in the halls of power remember that true authority is a stewardship under God,” the statement read. “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
