UP College of Law Faculty Urges Senate to 'forthwith proceed' with Sara Duterte Impeachment

Manila — Individual members of the University of the Philippines College of Law faculty have issued an open letter to the Senate, entitled 'To Forthwith Proceed,' asserting their position on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a four-page open letter, the UP College of Law faculty expressed concern on moves to declare the impeachment against VP Sara functionally or de facto dismissed.

"A premature dismissal will undermine the core democratic principle of checks and balances. In contrast, proceeding with the impeachment trial will uphold the Senate's constitutional mandate on public trust and accountability," part of the letter reads.

The UP College of Law further explains the nature of the impeachment case.

"The trial of impeachment cases is a proceeding in the Senate which, in this context, does not even sit as an ordinary legislative body but as a constitutional office of accountability. On the text of the Constitution alone, the right to speedy disposition would not apply."

The concerned faculty insists that the Senate's dismissal without hearing even a single witness will mean "its abandonment of its proud tradition as an august chamber and permanently alter our system of checks and balances."

"It will also undermine the people's trust in the Senate as an independent and impartial institution before which the highest officials of the land may demonstrate and prove their fealty to the principles of accountability, public service, and democracy," the latter part of the letter reads.

Photo Source: OVP