MORE THAN a week after the Senate postponed the impeachment proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte, UST called on the Senate to immediately proceed with the trial and fulfill its duty under the Constitution.
Unlike other institutions that issued lengthy statements, the University expressed its stance in exactly nine words.
“Respect the Constitution. Fulfill the duty. Forthwith proceed. Veritas,” UST said in a Facebook post on June 8.
Senate President Francis Escudero moved the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte from June 2 to June 11, 2025, the last day before the chamber adjourns sine die.
The move, which Escudero said would enable Congress to pass priority bills, has drawn flak from lawmakers and various groups who view it as a delaying tactic meant to protect the embattled vice president.
The UST Department of Sociology and UST Sociological Society also released a joint statement urging the Senate to continue the proceedings and thoroughly examine the impeachment articles.
“As early as February 2025, the House of Representatives already transmitted the impeachment case against VP Sara Duterte to the Senate with a vote of 215 against 306. It has been four months since, yet the impeachment trial has not progressed due to delaying tactics,” it said.
According to the department and the student organization, the Senate’s lack of immediate action demonstrates a disregard for the grounds of impeachment and neglects issues of misuse of public funds and the betrayal of public trust.
“This call emphasizes the right of the Filipino people to demand accountability. We urge the Senate to act now and uphold their constitutional duty,” they said.
With he postponement of the proceedings, the Senate will determine on June 11 whether it will convene as an impeachment court to hear the case against Duterte, who has been accused of violating the Constitution, betraying public trust and committing graft and corruption.
The readings of the Articles of Impeachment, oath-taking of senator-judges and the issuing of the summons against Duterte would take place on the same day, should senators vote to convene as an impeachment court.
The presentation of the articles of impeachment signals the beginning of the trial process. If the Senate convenes as an impeachment court, it would be authorized to issue summons to the camp of Duterte and the prosecution.
Upon receipt of the summons, the vice president is given 10 days to respond, while the House prosecutors are allotted five days to submit their reply.
This would give the House prosecution panel less than two weeks before the 20th Congress opens on July 28. The newly elected senators and House representatives will assume office on June 30.
Proceed with the trial, Senate urged
The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, whose members include UST, said proceeding with the trial is a ”constitutional, democratic and moral imperative.”
”To our Senators, this is a call for personal transcendence: transcend your personal and political interests, and fight for truth and justice. This was your vow when we elected you. This was your commitment to the Filipino people. This was the promise you made to your God, who blessed you with the power to lead and serve,” it said.
Other universities have also clamored for the start of the vice president’s impeachment trial, viewing its postponement as an effort to hinder legal procedures and a threat to democracy.
Various academic institutions, including Ateneo de Manila, have demanded “faithful obedience” to the Constitution, saying the accountability of public officials must not be overruled by political and self-serving manipulations.
“It is based on these foregoing principles and spirit that we expressly urge the Senate of the Philippines to immediately commence the impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte-Carpio and for a fair, impartial, and speedy disposition of the case, which not only upholds public office accountability, but one that also respects due process, as enshrined and mandated in our Constitution,” Ateneo said in a joint statement on June 8.
The statement was signed by deans from Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Naga, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan and Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
De La Salle University has condemned what it labeled as the Senate’s efforts to obstruct the legal process of Duterte’s impeachment.
Such a process, the university said, is a “sacred mechanism” preserved in the Constitution and a guarantee that public officials are held accountable to the people they serve.
“Any attempt to suppress this process undermines the pursuit of truth, and the very foundation of democracy, the rule of law, and the principle that no one is above the law,” it said.
The sentiment was echoed by Adamson University, which raised the urgency and importance of the constitutional process. According to Adamson, any delay or refusal to act according to the Constitution weakens the foundations of the country’s democratic institutions.
“To our Dear Senators, this is not the time for neutrality or passive observation; this is the time for principled leadership and decisive action. Do what is right instead of what is convenient for you,” the yniversity said.
“You must immediately commence impeachment proceedings as mandated by the Constitution, without further delay. You have procrastinated far too long,” it added. F
