By JIAN MARTIN TENORIO 
Bulatlat.com 

BULACAN – Several universities and colleges in the country have called for the Philippine Senate to fulfill its constitutionally mandated duty of commencing with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Citing both Ignatian and legal principles, the deans of the Jesuit-led Ateneo law schools released a statement yesterday, June 8, pushing for the proceeding of the trial against Duterte.

“We pray that the Philippine Senate will likewise respond to its moral and constitutional duty as true servants of the public upon whom the public trust is reposed, one that is faithful to the truth and to the Filipino people,” read the statement signed by the deans of Ateneo de Davao University College of Law, Ateneo de Naga University College of Law, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan School of Law, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, and the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Rosendo U. Castillo, Jr. College of Law.

The statement also stressed the continuing nature of the Senate as an impeachment court, allowing for the continuation of the impeachment trial to the 20th Congress, if necessary.

Last June 7, the Ateneo School of Government also released a statement reminding the members of the Senate of their duty as public servants.

According to the statement, “(d)ispensing the case without the benefit of a trial is a dereliction of duty and a clear attempt to whitewash the accusations raised against a public official.”

This was also the call of the Lasallian Family in the Philippines in a statement released last June 6, reminding current and incoming Senators of both the 19th and 20th Congress of “their constitutional duty to act as impartial stewards of justice, especially in matters involving the accountability of public officials.”

“They are not mere spectators to political expediency; they are guardians of the Republic’s integrity. The least they can do is to assure the Filipino people that the rule of law prevails, even when political pressures mount,” the statement read.

Similarly, the University of Santo Tomas posted on its Facebook page yesterday a photo with the words “Respect the Constitution. Fulfill the duty. Forthwith proceed. Veritas.” 

Another Dominican institution, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, also released a unified statement of its campuses as “ONE LETRAN,” calling for the constitutionally mandated impeachment process to “be conducted with fairness, transparency, and full respect for due process.”

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) also published a statement yesterday pushing for the commencement of the impeachment trial, which they cited as the “constitutional, democratic, and moral imperative.”

Law schools add their voice

Yesterday, university officials, faculty members, and the College of Law Student Council of Adamson University expressed concern over efforts to delay the impeachment trial.

Their statement argued that such acts weaken the country’s democratic institutions and undermine the Constitutional provision for the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial following the filing of the complaint by at least one-third of the members of the House of Representatives.

Professors of the Graduate School of Law of San Beda University, including former Supreme Court Associate Justices Adolf Azcuna and Jose Vitug, also urged the Senate to uphold the Constitution, stressing that “there is no sound constitutional and legal basis for any delay in the trial.”

June 11 protest 

A protest is set on June 11 to urge the Senate to proceed with the impeachment of Duterte led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan). Other groups such as  the Makabayan Coalition, Duterte Panagutin Campaign Network, Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado  Network Alliance – TAMA NA, Movement Against Tyranny (MAT), and Bunyog – Pagkakaisa are expected to mobilize their members.

“We will not leave the Senate grounds until the Senate constitutes itself into an impeachment court and comes out with appropriate orders, including a schedule for its hearings,” MAT said in its statement. 

They added, “We demand no less than a full blown trial, daily if possible, from June 11 up to June 30, when the terms of office of the members of the 19th Congress ends. If no verdict is reached by June 30, the trial should resume when the 20th Congress is convened the following month.” (With reports from Anne Marxze Umil) (RVO)