𝗖𝗲𝗻𝗣𝗘𝗚 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀

The Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) expresses serious concern over the decision of the Philippine Senate to return the duly transmitted Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. This move, though couched in the language of procedural due diligence, raises disturbing questions about the Senate’s commitment to its constitutional role as an impeachment court and the broader imperatives of accountability and rule of law in a democracy.

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲'𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝘂𝘁𝘆

The Senate’s unilateral return of the Articles of Impeachment—without a trial or hearing on the merits—constitutes a dangerous abdication of its constitutional duty. Under the 1987 Constitution, once the House of Representatives has filed and transmitted verified Articles of Impeachment, the Senate is bound to convene as an impeachment court. There is no constitutional basis for the Senate to impose additional requirements such as a reaffirmation of the House’s intent or a certification of compliance with the one-year bar. These are internal matters for the House and should not serve as pretexts for delaying or avoiding trial.

𝟮. 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲

This maneuver reflects a broader and increasingly familiar pattern in Philippine governance: the weaponization of procedural technicalities to shield powerful actors from public accountability. Instead of confronting the serious and well-documented allegations raised in the impeachment complaint—including the misuse of confidential and intelligence funds—the Senate opted to exploit ambiguity and delay. In doing so, it undermines the very spirit of checks and balances that impeachment was designed to uphold.

𝟯. 𝗘𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀

CenPEG warns that this act of remand, coming after months of delay, sends a chilling message: that no matter how grave the alleged offenses, institutional loyalty and political accommodation may prevail over democratic norms. The public deserves an impeachment process that is swift, transparent, and grounded in substance—not one that is bogged down by procedural evasions.

𝟰. 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

We call on the House of Representatives to act with dispatch in re-transmitting the Articles of Impeachment and asserting its constitutional prerogative. Likewise, we urge the Senate to rise above partisan interests and fulfill its historic role as the people’s court. The integrity of our democratic institutions—and public trust in governance—depends on it.

𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙣-𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙚𝙙.