
06/06/2025
LOOK: UP LAW FACULTY URGE SENATE TO PROCEED WITH VP SARA DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
Individual members of the University of the Philippines College of Law faculty have issued an open letter urging the Senate to "forthwith proceed" with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, warning that any move to dismiss the case without a trial would be unconstitutional and a betrayal of public accountability.
The professors raised concerns over proposals to declare the case "functionally or de facto dismissed," arguing that these are unsupported by constitutional grounds and jurisprudence. They cited the Constitution's mandate that once the Articles of Impeachment are transmitted, a trial by the Senate must immediately proceed, and warned that dismissal without trial would erode the Senate's role as an accountability institution.
Addressing claims that Duterte's right to a speedy disposition of cases was violated due to the Senate's four-month delay, the letter argued that impeachment is a sui generis proceeding and not subject to ordinary judicial timelines. The signatories also rejected the argument that the Senate, as a non-continuing body, may dismiss the case at the end of a congressional session.
"We are deeply concerned with moves to preemptively dismiss the impeachment case not because we necessarily believe in the charges," the letter read, "we do so because we wish to see the evidence, hear the Vice-President's defense, and with our fellow Filipinos, judge for ourselves her fitness to continue in public service."
They called on the Senate to uphold its constitutional duty and serve as the venue for the nation's "most important truth-telling procedure."
Source: UP College of Law via Impact Leadership