De La Salle University on Taft Avenue in Manila

MANILA — The Senate of the 19th Congress should immediately begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, faculty members of De La Salle University said, who said delaying it “erodes public trust” and mocks the “mechanisms of accountability” in the Constitution.

In a statement, the faculty members of the of the Department of Political Science and Development Studies expressed dismay on what they called "deliberate foot-dragging" in convening of the Senate as an impeachment court. 

“We express our deep disgust and grave concern over the protracted delay in convening the Senate as an Impeachment Court to try the case against Vice President Sara Duterte," they said.

Sara Duterte back in PH as impeachment trial looms

They also said the delay "reflects an active political maneuvering" that undermines a mechanism to hold top government officials accountable.

"Unless the 19th Senate fulfills its responsibility, they will enable impunity and accelerate the decay of our democratic norms," they stressed.

Academicians of the Ateneo de Manila University echoed these sentiments.

"The Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) urges the Senate to adhere to its constitutional duty and begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte AS SOON AS POSSIBLE," they said in a statement.

They stressed that by deliberately delaying the impeachment proceedings, the Senate is failing in its constitutional duty.

"This is not merely a matter of scheduling. It is a matter of accountability, of constitutional integrity, and of the Senate’s credibility as an institution," they said.

CARRY-OVER TO THE 20TH CONGRESS

The department also urged the senators-elect of the 20th Congress to carry over the impeachment trial with "urgency and integrity" saying that would show faithfulness to their office.

It would also be "a modest yet meaningful step toward resuscitating our increasingly autocratized political order," the scholars said.

They warned failure to immediately act on the impeachment case would go down in history as "a conscious betrayal of constitutional order."

Even before the Senate convenes as an impeachment court, members and senators-elect have already shown contending views on the issue.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino is firm that the articles of impeachment against Duterte cannot cross into the 20th Congress, while Duterte ally Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has drafted a resolution to drop the impeachment trial proceedings altogether for lack of time.

A 1987 Constitution framer said the two senators should "recuse themselves from the trial" as they have "prejudged" the case.

Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros renewed her call for trial to commence, saying the delays are "obstructions dressed up as protocol."

Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson said senators can only decide on the matter as an impeachment court and not a legislative body, hence  they cannot declare a de facto dismissal of the impeachment case as Dela Rosa is expected to propose.

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