Card. David: 'No more delays in Senate on Sara Duterte's impeachment'

The president of the Philippine Bishops' Conference has taken a stance on the start of proceedings for the impeachment of the vice-president and daughter of Rodrigo Duterte, which after several postponements linked to the clash with the Marcos clan is set for tomorrow. The cardinal: 'Although impeachment is by nature a political process, it is not exempt from the moral demands of truth, justice and accountability'.

Manila (AsiaNews) - The president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, has openly urged the country's Senate to act on the impeachment proceedings pending against Vice President Sara Duterte. The cardinal warned today that this act is 'a constitutional duty, not a political option'. "It is a solemn mandate arising from the principle of balance of powers enshrined in our democratic system," said David, Bishop of Kalookan. The Bishops' Conference president's intervention came on the eve of the start of the formal examination of the case, which - after several postponements granted by Senate President Chiz Escudero, an ally of the Duterte clan - is expected to take place tomorrow.

Sara is the daughter of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, currently in the custody of the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands, awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and president of the Philippines. An action that came after current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr long ago distanced himself from his clan ally in the 2022 elections. The Duterte and Marcos are two powerful political dynasties that have dominated the political landscape of the Philippines. The alliance between the Marcoses and the Duterte began to crumble when their positions on China's activities in the West Philippine Sea came under the magnifying glass, with Marcos considered pro-US and Duterte pro-China. Their disagreements became more apparent after the Duterte expressed their resentment towards the Marcoses.

On 5 February, 215 members of the 306 members of the House of Representatives had signed the impeachment complaint against Duterte on a number of charges including alleged embezzlement of 612 million Philippine pesos, bribery and corruption in the Department of Education (of which he was the head), conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos jr. All charges that Sara Duterte rejects, calling them a 'political conspiracy' against her and her family.

The request - which according to the Philippine Constitution must be examined by the 22 senators constituted as a panel - was initially postponed by Escudero until after the mid-term elections, in which some of the senators were to be replaced. But even after the vote - which saw the support for the Duterte clan confirmed by a large part of the electorate and ambitions for the 2027 presidential vote - the delaying manoeuvres continued, right up to tomorrow's convocation.

David warned against delaying or obstructing the process for political reasons, saying this would betray both the Constitution and the public trust. "Let conscience guide your actions. Let the truth take its course," he said. "As president of the Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, I speak not on behalf of any political group or interest, but from the perspective of the Church's social teaching, which calls for moral responsibility and the primacy of the common good in public life," David added.

"Although impeachment is by nature a political and quasi-judicial process, it is not exempt from the moral demands of truth, justice and accountability. In a constitutional democracy, political authority must be exercised within the limits of the law and with respect for truth. When politics serves only partisan interests, it degenerates into manipulation, but when it is guided by conscience and the common good, it becomes a noble service. To delay, reject or ignore such a process for reasons of political expediency is to betray the Constitution and the trust of the people. As stewards of public affairs, senators are not only answerable to the law, but are also bound by conscience to act with integrity and impartiality," he reiterated.

"We appeal to all senators, especially the leaders, to allow the constitutional process to proceed unhindered. If there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear," David said. "Let conscience guide your actions. Let truth take its course."