Accountability and transparency on trial
Last week’s political events are shaking the foundations of our government institutions to the core. That all this happened on the week of the commemoration of our country’s 127th Independence Day lends an even greater significance—and irony. As the Senate stalls on convening the impeachment trial, the disconnect between democratic values and political interests is appalling.
Though the Senate convened itself into an impeachment court, it made the unprecedented move of remanding the impeachment complaint to the House of Representatives, citing a much-debated technicality that required a certification from the House that the one-year rule was not violated. Responsively, the House—without losing precious time—issued a resolution certifying that the impeachment proceedings that it had initiated in February fully complied with the law. In effect, the Senate’s move assured the continuance of the impeachment trial in the 20th Congress with the newly elected senators as impeachment judges.
Widespread outrage from various sectors erupted outside the Senate and across social media spaces. Are our leaders serving the Filipino people—or simply shielding political allies for personal gain? To delay or in any way, undermine the impeachment process is to deny Filipinos the right to know the truth and to hold government officials accountable for their acts in office.
The impeachment case will test each senator-judge on their commitment to transparency, accountability, and justice. Its subsequent trial and eventual outcome will shape political dynamics beyond this administration.
The people are watching whether their elected representatives would in fact act on behalf of their interests. A Social Weather Stations survey, conducted in partnership with the Stratbase Group, revealed that 88 percent of Filipinos believe Vice President Sara Duterte must address the impeachment charges, answer to corruption allegations, and clear her name.
An earlier OCTA Research survey, conducted from April 20 to 24, 2025, showed that 78 percent of Filipinos want Duterte to face a Senate trial or impeachment court to formally respond to the charges.
These numbers are consistent and unequivocal: there is strong public demand not only for Duterte to face trial but also for the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty to “forthwith proceed” with the impeachment process. The people don’t want confusing legalese spins.
On the other hand, the impeachment trial is the Vice President’s opportunity to face the charges and clear her name as she confidently claims.
It is thus baffling why some senators would do everything in their power to frustrate the democratic process when all that is being sought is to conduct the trial as the Constitution mandates, and for them, sitting as senator-judges, mete out fair judgment consistent with the facts and evidence.
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Transparency and accountability are not just buzz words. They are sacred principles that demand concrete action and uncompromising reverence to the rule of law. Only this will ensure the kind of democracy and governance that our people deserve.
As citizens, we have the right to express our outrage. They have to know that they are accountable not to their political patrons but to the people who gave them the mandate and who pay their salaries. Those tasked to carry this out must not play God with the rules for the exigency of their political agenda.
The backlash has been swift and widespread coming from religious leaders, business groups, academia, and civil society alike. What we’re hearing is the voice of the people who’ve had enough—of the blatant cover-up, of the hypocrisy, of the delay, of the betrayal of public trust. This is a collective cry against the erosion of our democratic values.
The people demand that the impeachment trial of Duterte move forward—not as a political spectacle, but as a demonstration of our nation’s commitment to truth, accountability, and justice. Justice lies not only in finding someone guilty or innocent. It is also in ensuring that the process is observed and carried out in accordance with the letter and spirit of the law.
If the Senate fails to deliver justice, it sets a dangerous precedent: that the powerful can evade accountability, and our government institutions can be bent into tools of impunity and political abuse.
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Dindo Manhit is the founder and CEO of Stratbase Group.
