"No" to accountability and justice?
Even before the Philippines’ House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on February 5, 2025 by a vote of 215 out of 306 members based on a 44-page “verified complaint for impeachment,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr had on many occasions distanced himself from the whole process. He discouraged lawmakers at the lower house from impeaching the Vice President on the grounds that it would not benefit the people. Yet, he was quoted to have also declared that Congress had no option but to act on the impeachment complaints against Duterte. He admitted it was Congress’ Constitutional mandate.
In a nutshell, the House alleged that the impeachment complaint was based on the grounds of the Vice President's culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
The Vice President's alleged actions beg for accountability and justice.
The President, by putting his foot down against the impeachment, is dangerously signaling to the civil society that he either supports the Vice President against all the charges leveled against her or he condones the acts of violating the Philippine Constitution and betrayal of public trust through graft and corruption. The President is also short of telling Congress its Articles of Impeachment are vacuous, that what more than 200 representatives of the people submitted to the Philippine Senate does not mean anything to the nation.
Between February and June, nothing happened to the constitutional provision that the trial for decision by the Senate on the impeachment complaint should start “forthwith.” As Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros emphasized: “The Filipino people are waiting. And we believe four months is more than enough…these delays are no longer procedural. They are obstructions dressed up as protocol.”
If the President intends to continue playing the good guy, there is definitely nothing to expect from such a charade, that his anointed one will manage to succeed him in 2028. Social media continue to sway public opinion in favor of Sara Duterte. She remains the one to beat in 2028. However, if it is any indication, a recent SWS survey approximates the public’s overwhelming sentiment against Sara’s violations of the law and the Constitution, with the President’s obvious tolerance simply demonstrating his failure to uphold integrity in public service. It is all about bad governance and unfortunately, the President and his Vice President are perceived to be in the same mold. Accountability and justice demand that the trial should be initiated as soon as possible, and pursued to the end.
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