MANILA, Philippines — Calls to push through with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte continue to grow louder, as eight of the country’s top universities publicly urged the Senate not to delay proceedings any further.
Despite separate statements, the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas (UST), Far Eastern University, Adamson University, College of Saint Benilde, and San Beda University issued a unified message: the Senate must uphold its constitutional duty and move forward with the impeachment trial.
Vice President Duterte is facing allegations of corruption, primarily related to the alleged misuse of confidential funds during her time as both Vice President and Secretary of the Department of Education.
Adding to the growing pressure, the Catholic Church has also weighed in.
Radyo Veritas, the official AM radio station of the Archdiocese of Manila, has called on the public to participate in a prayer vigil from June 9 to June 11, seeking truth and accountability in the ongoing impeachment process.
The Senate has come under fire after it postponed the reading of the Articles of Impeachment from its original schedule on June 2 to June 11.
Senate President Chiz Escudero, who announced the deferment, has been the target of significant backlash.
Tensions further escalated when Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa admitted that he initiated the now-circulating “de facto dismissal” resolution, which seeks to scrap the impeachment trial altogether.
As public scrutiny intensifies, the Senate faces growing calls to respect the constitutional process and allow the trial to proceed without further delay.