As the Senate prepares to start impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, international think tank Stratbase Institute has challenged senators “to rise above political alliances and personal interests, and base their decisions on credible and reliable evidence.”
Stratbase president Dindo Manhit reminded senators that their loyalty is “not to certain personalities or allies – but to the Filipino people,” as he underscored that political stability, just like the trust and confidence of the Filipinos, can be achieved only when government leaders are held accountable for their actions.
“Accountability is the foundation of stable and credible institutions. Without it, there will be no public trust. The strength of our democracy lies in how well we hold those in power to account. This is how we create lasting political stability,” he noted, adding that “the strength of our institutions is measured not by the authority, but by how openly and honestly authorities can be questioned, corrected, and held accountable for their actions.”
At the same time, geopolitical expert Richard Heydrian also challenged government leaders to “come forward and uphold the rule of law.”
“The mechanics of the trial matters. The trial has to be seen as credible. The people involved in the trial have to be credible. And the people in the trial have to make sure that when they point out corruption and all, it has to be fair, meaning it looks at culpability on all levels; it doesn’t fundamentally undermine faith in the entire system,” Heydrian said in the same Stratbase statement.
The impeached Duterte is accused of bribery, graft, corruption, and culpable violation of the Constitution in connection with the alleged misuse of up to P612 million in confidential funds of her office and that of the Department of Education, which she led from 2022 to 2024.
As the Senate prepares to proceed with another impeachment, Filipinos are hoping that the senators who make up the tribunal can respect the process that has accountability as its core. The judgement they will render on a high official should not be about power, personalities, or loyalty to a party. It should be based on evidence and uphold the rule of law.
Contrary to popular belief, impeachment is not a numbers game. It is the serious business of holding public officials accountable for their words and actions, and those who treat it like a game will be responsible for the further degradation of the nation’s soul.*
