The Senate of the Philippines now finds itself teetering on the edge of a constitutional crisis, not because of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte per se, but because of the sheer audacity, confusion, and misplaced loyalties demonstrated by our so-called senator-judges.
Let’s start with the absurdity of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri’s
pronouncements. On the one hand, he acknowledges his constitutional duty as a senator-judge, claiming he will “set his bias aside.” On the other, he has already branded the impeachment proceedings a “witch hunt,” undermining the entire process and prematurely casting doubt on its legitimacy.
How can a senator sit in judgment of an impeachment case while declaring publicly that it is politically motivated? That is not impartiality. That is poisoning the well before the first drop of evidence has even been poured.
Then there’s the Senate’s questionable decision to remand the articles of impeachment back to the House of Representatives, a move many legal scholars, law schools, and even former justices have denounced as unconstitutional. The Senate, once in possession of the articles, has no authority to return them. The Constitution binds them to try the case. No ifs. No buts.
To put it plainly, the Senate is not a review body of the House’s impeachment prerogatives. Their duty is to conduct a trial, not to assess whether they want to try it.
Worse, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa filed a motion to dismiss the case outright. Let’s be clear: judges do not file motions. Judges rule on them.
When senator judges start acting as lawyers for the defense, they no longer wear the robe of impartiality — they don the armor of advocacy. In a courtroom, that would be grounds for immediate disqualification or even disciplinary action. But in the Philippine Senate, it’s just another Tuesday.
Accountability is not a dangerous word. It only becomes destructive to those who have something to hide. Those afraid of the truth will always try to distort the process, delay action, and disrupt proceedings — not to protect the institution, but to protect themselves and their allies.
Senator Zubiri talks about “following the process,” but actions speak louder than lip service. Voting to remand the case, while knowing it could lead to its demise, is not due process — it’s political euthanasia.
The impeachment of a sitting Vice President is no light matter. It is a test of our democratic institutions and constitutional resilience. But instead of rising to the occasion, many of our senators have decided to crawl beneath it. They speak of loyalty to Mindanao, popularity in Bukidnon, and survey rankings for 2028 — as if public opinion were a substitute for the rule of law.
This is not about whether Sara Duterte is guilty or not. This concerns whether the Senate can be trusted to perform its duties fairly, impartially, and with respect for the Constitution. When senators put personal, regional, or political interests ahead of institutional integrity, they don’t just betray their oath of office. They betray the people.
The impeachment process was never meant to be comfortable. It is designed to be confrontational, challenging and uncompromising in its demand for truth. If the Senate cannot stomach that, then perhaps it’s not the Vice President who should be on trial — it is the Senate itself.
