Analysts, academe among growing voices vs delay in VP Sara's impeachment trial in Senate

MANILA -- A political analyst and members of the academe on Saturday joined the growing voices against the Senate for the delay in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, saying she should be held accountable.

Former presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas said he does not know what is keeping the Senate from starting the impeachment, even if the articles of impeachment were transmitted by the House in February.

"Bakit yung ating senado ay dine-delay ito? Na-submit ito sa senado noong February tapos ngayon sasabihin nila wala nang oras. Sino bang nag-delay? Sino ba ang nag-misinterpret sa salitang forthwith?" said Llamas in a news forum.

"‘Yung mga kasama mo, sasabihin pa de facto dismissal ay nakaamba. Nasaan ba sa Konstitusyon ang de facto dismissal? Walang nakasulat doon," he added. 

The analyst said the trial would still proceed in the Senate despite the change in new senators.

"Magbabago ang katangian ng Senado [into] a trial court. Yun ang kaibahan. At yan ay pwedeng magpatuloy sa susunod na Senado dahil korte na siya. Yung sinasabi na siya ay matapos na sa 19th Congress ang trabaho, totoo – bilang senado," he added.

READ: Pangilinan says dismissing VP Sara impeachment case not an option for Senate

READ: Profs add to pressure on Senate to start VP Sara impeachment trial

MEMBERS OF THE ACADEME QUESTION DELAYVice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Office of The Vice President in Mandaluyong City on December 11, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Student leaders from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and San Beda University have also issued statements against the delay of Duterte's impeachment trial.

The UST Central Student Council described the allegations against the Vice President's, including the misuse of confidential funds as a violation of public trust that should be looked into.

"Now more than ever, it is crucial to rise in collective action, defend our democratic institutions, and ensure that no public official is above the law," the UST-CSC said. 

For its part, the student leaders from San Beda University said the trial delay is a betrayal of justice and democratic integrity.

"The continued delay of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial disregards our right to a government that answers to the people and to the rule of law. We demand that all public officials, regardless of their rank, are held to the highest standards of accountability,"  the San Beda SHS Student Council said.

The Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance meanwhile said an impeachment is about "greater good prevailing over partisan politics and blind idolatry."

"This period of our history will not merely be a measure of whether one practices good governance. Instead, it is these very moments of our history that one will be judged as to how much they are adherent to the promise they made when they were vested with this utmost responsibility," its statement read.

Some faculty members from San Beda University's Graduate School of Law also said, "there is no sound constitutional and legal basis for any delay in the trial."

"An undue delay sends the signal to the nation that mandated processes are thwarted for ulterior ends," the statement read. 

"Accountability is crucial to the workings of a government that should be able to earn the respect and trust of citizens.  The trial is a measure of accountability," they added.

The statements came out after draft resolutions to dismiss the articles of impeachment were floated among some senators and after Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero's statement that the delayed start "neither favors nor prejudices either side."

CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY

Meanwhile, the Philippine Bar Association, Inc. said the Philippine Constitution is clear in its wording regarding impeachment.

"The text of the Constitution is clear. It bears no ambiguity, except that which is now being forced upon it. '[T]rial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed' is as direct as it can be. Reasonable people can disagree on how fast 'forthwith' means but it it safe to say it does not mean several months of delay," said the group.

"Let the trial be held as the Constitution commands. Require the prosecution to prove its case. And allow the respondent the chance to clear her name. By doing so, the Senate prejudices no one. And more importantly, it tells the Filipino public that it is up to the task given it by the Constitution."