A broad coalition of church leaders has condemned the Supreme Court decision delaying the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, calling it “a miscarriage of timely justice” for the Filipino people.
Quoting Habakkuk 1:3-4, the groups decried the situation, saying, “Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law becomes slack, and justice never prevails.”
“Vice-President Sara Duterte’s impeachment should have been attended with due speed and diligence,” said the faith-based group One Faith, One Nation, One Voice in a statement.
“Allegations of corruption are not a simple matter of ‘politicking’ between elite clans or political blocs. Misuse of government funds robs the people, especially the poor, of much-needed services.”
The signatories—composed of Catholic bishops, Protestant leaders, and religious congregations—said the high court’s decision “compels the public to wait again for Sara’s impeachment. Our people deserve better.”
They emphasized that “TRUTH must be placed on the table and evidence of corruption on the scales of JUSTICE. Transparent, timely, and accessible processes should allow the public to participate. They should be able to monitor and judge the authenticity and integrity of judgment through an impeachment trial.”
According to the statement, “Delays at the House of Representatives and at the Senate and even waffling advice from the President have now led to a miscarriage of TIMELY JUSTICE for the Filipino people.”
The groups asserted that “Sara Duterte still can and should be held to account for her suspect and shoddy dispensation of government funds among other allegations.”
They also questioned the high court’s ruling, raising doubts over whether it was a genuine legal decision or a form of political maneuvering.
The church leaders warned that the ruling could create a loophole allowing frivolous impeachment complaints to block more substantial cases, ultimately undermining the timely process owed to the Filipino people.
“Whatever the motives, TRUTH no longer seems to be the priority. Sara has subverted accountability, at least temporarily,” the statement said, adding: “Still, as for Mary Grace Piattos, this isn’t over. We will continue. JUSTICE must prevail.”
