Citing a critical need to safeguard the nation’s democratic institutions, more than 50 Catholic bishops and priests, alongside Caritas Philippines, issued a joint statement on Sunday demanding that the Senate immediately convene for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The collective appeal from the Catholic Church’s social action arm warned that any further postponement of the proceedings risks severely undermining public trust and eroding the rule of law.
“We appeal to the members of the Senate to abide by what the Constitution directs: To proceed with the trial and … adhere to the rule of law and serve the common good in the pursuit of justice and truth,” the group stated.
The statement closely echoes a previous call to action by Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), who similarly pressured lawmakers to honor their constitutional obligations. The signatories emphasized that a prompt trial is essential for all parties involved.
“To delay the trial is to delay justice for both the Filipino people and the Vice President,” the statement read.
This urgent religious intervention follows a tumultuous week for the upper chamber, which has been rocked by the reported disappearance of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and a violent May 13 shooting incident involving Senate security personnel and an agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
In light of these escalating controversies, the church leaders challenged the Filipino public to reject complacency, organize peacefully, and closely monitor the developing political crisis.
“The events in the Senate in the past days make it more important that we peacefully organize as a nationwide network,” the group urged. “And be vigilant in safeguarding our democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.”
Responding to the mounting pressure, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed that the upper chamber will officially transform into an impeachment court at 3 p.m. on Monday, acknowledging that the constitutional mandate to proceed “forthwith” necessitates immediate action.