Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) former president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas denounced the postponement of the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, labeling it a “sin” and a serious violation of truth and justice.
In a pastoral letter titled “It is Wrong! It is a Sin!” the archbishop said “to delay the trial or even to abort it is to suppress the TRUTH.”
“It is a sin. The opponent, the devil, is rightly called Prince of Lies,” he noted.
Villegas said he was participating “as a priest and shepherd” in the current national dialogue, while also recognizing that legal professionals are already offering their insights.
“The nation has a right to the truth that can only be established by law and evidence. To deprive the people of the full truth is a form of robbery. It is keeping something not yours. It is a sin,” he added.
“To abort the trial even before its delayed commencement is deplorable. It is a sin against justice. The trial by the Senate is a positive command of the Philippine Constitution. It is a demand for justice. It must be commenced and it must continue to a just verdict,” Villegas emphasized.
“It is wrong to delay or abort it, according to no less than the framers of the Constitution itself. I add—it is sinfully wrong. It offends truth and justice.”
The prelate criticized the Senate’s delay of the proceedings, labeling it as “a deficiency in diligence or commitment” that the country does not deserve.
“The country deserves more than such officials,” he added.
