A disheartening ruling on the impeachment of VP Sara

The Supreme Court’s decision declaring the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional is both disappointing and disheartening. It was a ruling grounded in legal technicalities. Had the Court taken a broader—and arguably wiser—perspective, a different interpretation might have prevailed.

This is not merely about Sara Duterte as an individual. It is a matter of public accountability. The impeachment process exists to hold public officials accountable for the decisions and transactions they make. These actions must be aligned with the mandate of their office and must ultimately serve the people. The impeachment complaint filed by the House of Representatives, which stemmed from allegations of corruption, are serious charges that merit scrutiny, not dismissal.

Corruption in government is often viewed by the public as routine—a sad norm. Allowing the impeachment process to move forward could have challenged that perception. It would have sent a powerful message: that no official, regardless of rank, is above the law. Such a precedent could have promoted a culture of accountability, discouraging abuse of power.

The larger context is the state of the Filipino people, many of whom face daily struggles: lack of decent housing, persistent hunger and malnutrition, and limited access to stable employment. These hardships are often the result of corrupt and negligent governance. Communities suffer when infrastructure projects are mismanaged, when ancestral lands are seized under the guise of progress, or when farmlands are converted into lifeless concrete landscapes. Corruption strips citizens of their dignity and robs them of opportunities for a better life.

Curbing corruption is a critical step. It empowers the people and instills a sense of justice. It can give ordinary citizens the courage to demand not just what is due them, but what they truly deserve.