The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has called on the Senate to immediately convene as an impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte, releasing a pastoral statement a day after the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impeach her for the second time.
Signed by Archbishop of Lipa and CBCP President Most Rev. Gilbert A. Garcera and dated May 12, 2026, the statement — titled “Serve the Common Good in the Pursuit of Justice and Truth” — urged senators to proceed with the trial in accordance with their constitutional duty and to avoid any act that may be perceived as circumventing or evading it.
“We appeal to the Members of the Senate to abide by what the Constitution directs: to proceed with the trial and to decide the case against the Vice President by summoning witnesses, hearing testimony, and voting according to the evidence and, above all, the demands of righteousness and justice,” the bishops wrote.
The CBCP also warned against efforts to delay the proceedings, stating: “To delay the trial is to delay justice for both the Filipino people and the Vice President.”
The statement came less than 24 hours after the House voted 257–25 to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, far surpassing the one-third threshold required to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial. The charges against the Vice President include culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes — among them the alleged misuse of confidential funds and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The bishops’ appeal takes on added weight following a dramatic political upheaval in the Senate on May 11, when a bloc of senators aligned with the Duterte family ousted Senate President Tito Sotto in a surprise leadership coup, replacing him with former Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano — who has since indicated he will not allow an impeachment trial to proceed without a Philippine court-issued warrant or order. Cayetano’s election, carried by a 13–9 vote, came just as the House was finalizing its impeachment tally, raising concern among critics that the leadership change was orchestrated specifically to block or stall the trial.
The CBCP acknowledged the gravity of the moment, calling on all Filipinos to remain vigilant and to help ensure a fair and credible process. “We must also remain vigilant in monitoring the proceedings. In this way, we uphold the truth, safeguard the integrity of public discourse, and strengthen our nation against misinformation, disinformation, and manipulation,” the statement read.
The bishops also expressed hope that the constitutional process would ultimately serve as an avenue for truth. “Our deep desire and fervent prayer is that we arrive at the truth through this constitutional process, with the hope that this will strengthen our respect for and adherence to the rule of law, a key pillar of a genuine and stable democracy,” they said.
The statement closed with an invocation of Our Lady of Fatima, whose feast day falls on May 13, asking for prayers for the country’s leaders, nation, church, and people.
This is Sara Duterte’s second impeachment by the House. The first, in February 2025, was eventually nullified by the Supreme Court on a constitutional technicality, though the high court’s ruling did not bar future impeachment attempts. The second impeachment effort now rests with a Senate whose new leadership has cast doubt on whether a trial will proceed as constitutionally mandated.
