Two institutions based at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) have joined calls for the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The Ateneo School of Government on Saturday issued a statement saying that 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.”
“The impeachment process is a sacred duty enshrined in our Constitution. It is the primary mechanism to ensure that our elected officials would remain faithful to their sworn duty to serve the public with dedication, commitment, and, most importantly, integrity,” the statement read.
“We remind our Senators that they are public servants and their mandate is based on the people’s trust. 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.
Similarly, the Ateneo Human Rights Center criticized the lapse in conducting the impeachment proceedings, arguing that this violates the constitutional command.
“It must be stated plainly: by deliberately delaying the impeachment proceedings, the Senate is failing in its constitutional duty. This is not merely a matter of scheduling. It is a matter of accountability, of constitutional integrity, and of the Senate’s credibility as an institution,” the center said.
