CBCP disturbed by Senate delay in Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Bishops attending the 130th Annual Retreat and Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines gather for a Holy Mass on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at the historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon, Bohol, one of the country’s oldest churches. — Photo by Leo Udtohan

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Tuesday affirmed its call for transparency and accountability as it expressed concern on the delay in the Senate in proceeding with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The CBCP said that the bishops who gathered for the 130th CBCP Plenary Assembly reflected on the issues that affect the world and the people.

“We are disturbed by the delay in the Senate in executing the constitutional demand for the impeachment process of the Vice President,” the CBCP said in a statement.

The Senate convened as an impeachment court last June 10, 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.

“We affirm that impeachment, when pursued with truth and justice, is a legitimate democratic mechanism for transparency and accountability in governance,” the CBCP noted.

READ: CBCP leader: Delaying Duterte impeachment trial betrays Constitution

The CBCP then asked the faithful to foster a culture rooted in Christian faith where they will listen to both sides “with openness.”

CBCP President Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David earlier said that delaying the trial would be a betrayal of the 1987 Constitution and public trust.

David then emphasized that the impeachment process, though political and quasi-judicial, should not be exempt from the moral demands of truth, justice, and accountability.

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Aside from this, the CBCP appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for serious negotiations to resolve the long-standing problems of Palestine. The conference also condemned the weaponization of starvation, emphasizing that “there is no victory in war.”

“We advocate for a sustained culture of peace rooted in justice, mercy and our shared humanity, transcending race, religion and politics,” the CBCP said.

The conference also recognized the “below the living wages” salaries of workers in the country, emphasizing that the Church must set an example in ensuring that workers must be dignified in their work.

“We appeal for dialogue among employees, employers and the government to arrive at mutually acceptable solutions on just wages and security of tenure as the workers rightfully demand and the Church’s social teachings advocate,” it added.

The National Capital Region wage board has recently granted the additional P50 daily minimum wage increase in Metro Manila. The Department of Labor and Employment earlier noted that the wage hike “is the highest ever granted by the NCR wage board” for around 1.2 million wage earners in the region.

The increase will be effective on July 18, 2025, a year after the last minimum wage increase of P35 took effect on July 17, 2025. /das