TRUTH, justice, and accountability should be prioritized amid the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte on Feb. 5 for alleged corruption and a supposed plot to assassinate the president, Caritas Philippines said in a statement.
In a press release, the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines appealed to those in power to “approach these proceedings with fairness, integrity, and respect for the rule of law.”
“The impeachment process serves as an essential mechanism in our democracy to maintain accountability among those in power,” said the Caritas Philippines president, Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo. “No leader should be beyond scrutiny, and governance must always serve the common good.”
More than one-third of the House of Representatives, well above the threshold required for proceedings to move to the Senate, voted to impeach the vice president.
If Duterte gets convicted by two-thirds of the Senate, she will be the first vice president in Philippine history to be removed and the fourth high-ranking public official overall.
Bagaforo, a UST alumnus, lauded the House for listening to the “voice of the Filipino people.”
“We must not let political divisions overshadow our primary concern: the welfare of our people. Leadership requires responsible governance, just allocation of resources, and equal access to justice,” he said.
The House move further escalates the political feud between Duterte and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who ran under a single ticket in 2022.
The prelate also called on the faithful to remain “vigilant, prayerful, and actively engaged.”
“As we navigate this critical period, let us work together to build a society that upholds truth, justice, and the dignity of every Filipino,” he said.
Duterte will remain vice president during the impeachment proceedings, which is expected to begin after Congress reopens on June 2.
