A Catholic priest and various civil society groups have denounced what they describe as deliberate stalling by the Senate in moving forward with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, warning that the delays are denying Filipinos their right to accountability and justice.
Fr. Flavie Villanueva, one of the first to file an impeachment complaint against Duterte, announced upcoming mass actions to pressure lawmakers into fulfilling their constitutional duty. “Impeachment is imperative, impeachment is a moral obligation. Impeachment delayed, justice denied,” he told Radio Veritas.
Villanueva also took to Facebook to urge public participation in protests and vigils scheduled from June 9 to 11—the final days of the current congressional session. The events are backed by Kalipunan ng Kilusang Masa, Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, and Tindig Pilipinas, all of which are involved in the impeachment complaints against the vice president.
Criticism against the Senate intensified following a proposal from Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to dismiss the impeachment case, alongside continued postponements that have stalled the process since February.
In a strong statement, the Ateneo Human Rights Center said, “By deliberately delaying the impeachment proceedings, the Senate is failing in its constitutional duty,” warning that the delay turns the country’s mechanisms of accountability into a “political circus.”
Echoing the concern, the De La Salle community stated, “Any attempt to suppress this process undermines the pursuit of truth, and the very foundation of democracy, the rule of law, and the principle that no one is above the law.”
Kapatid, a support group for political prisoners, joined the clamor, questioning why detainees face prolonged imprisonment while Duterte appears insulated from legal scrutiny. “Why are political prisoners being made to rot in jail while Vice President Sara Duterte is shielded from scrutiny and accountability despite facing grave charges?” asked detained peace consultant Vicente Ladlad.
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) also voiced alarm, claiming undue political influence from the Dutertes is clouding the Senate’s independence. “The Dutertes are benefiting from a wide berth in their political influence, wrongly and unlawfully, to delay or even to kill the trial,” NUPL said.
The House of Representatives filed the articles of impeachment in February, but the Senate has yet to act formally. Critics say every day of inaction further erodes public trust in institutions meant to uphold democratic accountability.
