Ateneo School of Gov’t urges Senate to push Sara Duterte impeach trial

Vice President Sara Duterte gestures as she delivers a statement following her impeachment by the lower house of Congress, in her office at Mandaluyong City in this file photo taken on February 7, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

MANILA, Philippines — The Ateneo School of Government of the Ateneo de Manila University has called on the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing that the process is a “sacred duty enshrined in our Constitution.”

In a statement on Saturday, the Ateneo School of Government reminded the senators that as they are public servants, their mandate is based on the public’s trust.

“Dispensing the case without the benefit of a trial is a dereliction of duty and a clear attempt to whitewash the accusations raised against a public official,” it said.

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It also emphasized that the impeachment process ensures that every public official remains faithful to its sworn duty to serve the public “with dedication, commitment, and most importantly, integrity.”

“We pray that they would remain true to what the Senate institution stands for: upholding the Constitution, promoting democratic values, and serving the national interest,” it added.

Senate President Francis Escudero earlier presented the updated timeline of the impeachment trial, with June 11 marked as the presentation of Articles of Impeachment. It was originally scheduled for June 2, where Escudero explained that the schedule change was made “to allow the Senate to tackle priority legislative measures before the 19th Congress adjourns.”

The reading of the Articles of Impeachment would allow the Senate to convene into an impeachment court and tackle the impeachment against Duterte.

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald dela Rosa recently confirmed that he initiated the drafting of a resolution seeking to dismiss the impeachment case against Duterte.

The resolution states that the postponement of the reading of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte from June 2 to June 11 leaves the Congress “with no sufficient time to fully deliberate and resolve” the articles “as the matter cannot cross over to the incoming 20th Congress which will convene on the fourth Monday of July 2025.”

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Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives by overwhelmingly 215 votes last February 5. The verified complaint was sent to the Senate on the same day, however, her case remained pending in the 19th Congress.

Aside from the Ateneo School of Government, the faculty members of the University of the Philippines College of Law and the De La Salle University have also urged the Senate to act on the Constitutional mandate of proceeding with the impeachment trial with fairness and transparency. /jpv