The Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) has publicly urged the Philippine Senate to move forward with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing that halting the process would be a “dereliction of duty.”
“We stand for ethical leadership in public service,” the school declared in a statement released Saturday, calling on senators to “fulfill [their] Constitutional duty” and proceed with the trial.
The statement comes after similar appeals from various academic institutions and legal experts, including over 100 faculty members from the University of the Philippines College of Law, and renowned San Beda University law professors such as retired Supreme Court Justices Adolf Azcuna and Jose Vitug.
ASoG underscored that “dispensing the case without the benefit of a trial” would not only abandon constitutional obligations but also appear as a deliberate attempt to “whitewash the accusations” against the Vice President. “The impeachment process is a sacred duty,” it noted, meant to uphold integrity and accountability among elected officials.
The Philippine Political Science Association echoed this view, warning that the Senate’s continued inaction undermines transparency and democratic institutions. “In a functioning democracy, no public official, regardless of their popularity or political influence, is above scrutiny,” the PPSA said.
The House of Representatives transmitted the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte to the Senate on February 5 after over 200 lawmakers endorsed the complaint, citing betrayal of public trust and other serious charges. However, the Senate adjourned without acting on it.
Senate President Chiz Escudero initially said the trial would begin on June 2, but later postponed it to June 11, citing the need to prioritize the administration’s legislative agenda. With the 19th Congress ending on June 30, Senator Francis Tolentino warned that the case may be considered “functionally dismissed” if not completed by then.
Duterte has denied all allegations. Whether the trial continues under the 20th Congress will depend on a Senate vote.
