Sara Duterte trial: Church leaders urge Congress to rise above politics

SENATOR-JUDGES Senators—or the majority of them—finally get to don their judges’ robes that have been ready since March and take their oath as members of the impeachment court on Tuesday, with Senate President Francis “Chiz’’ Escudero serving as presiding officer. — NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Church leaders on Wednesday urged Congress to “rise above partisan politics” to uphold public trust in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The religious organization One Faith, One Nation, One Voice joined the growing public clamor for the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty and proceed with the impeachment process.

“It is imperative that the impeachment process continues. Elected officials must not run roughshod over the people’s desire for truth, justice, and accountability. Let no corner be cut, let no stone be left unturned, let every credible witness and relevant evidence be presented,” the organization’s statement reads.

READ: Impeachment court sends Sara Duterte case back to House

The Senate convened as an impeachment court on Tuesday, after the senator-judges took their respective oaths earlier that day. However, the court voted 18–5 to return the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives.

The motion was filed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who clarified that sending the case back to the lower chamber does not equate to its dismissal or termination.

The religious organization said transparency in the impeachment process is “essential,” emphasizing that it should be conducted “without undue haste on one side and with attention to due process and the gravity of the charges on the other.”

“All Senators and Congress Representatives involved must rise above partisan politics to ensure public trust for the entire process. If not, the betrayal of public trust will become layers deep,” it added.

READ: Sara Duterte impeachment: What you need to know

The group also highlighted two of the seven articles of impeachment.

“The allegations of the misuse of public funds – notwithstanding the possibility that these may have been used for the commission of human rights violations – are very serious crimes of corruption and a travesty of unchecked proportions,” they said.

The group also said that elected officials, whether coming from the 19th or 20th Congress, “should feel a heavy weight of responsibility to the Filipino people to properly lay down all available evidence for the charges levied against Vice President Sara Duterte.”

Duterte on Wednesday received the writ of summons issued by the Senate impeachment court, which gave her a non-extendible period of 10 days to answer the complaint against her, in accordance with Article 7 of the impeachment rules.

She is currently in Malaysia on a personal trip with her family./mcm