DLSU calls on senators to act on Sara Duterte impeachment case
The De La Salle University in Taft Avenue in Manila taking its stand on a political issue in this 2020 file photo. Now the university is calling on the Senate to act on its constitutional duty to hear the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte. Inquirer/Marianne Bermudez
MANILA, Philippines — The De La Salle University (DLSU) called on senators — both of the 19th and the incoming 20th Congress — to act on their constitutional duty and allow the to proceed with fairness and transparency.
In a statement on Friday, DLSU said they stand for truth, accountability, and justice. It then condemned all efforts — covert or overt—to prematurely discard or obstruct the constitutional process of impeachment against the country’s second top leader.
“The impeachment process is not merely a political exercise; it is a sacred mechanism enshrined in the 1987 Constitution to ensure that the highest public officials remain answerable to the people they serve,” said DLSU.
“Any attempt to suppress this process undermines the pursuit of truth, and the very foundation of democracy, the rule of law, and the principle that no one is above the law,” it emphasized.
DLSU then reminded senators of their constitutional duty to “act as impartial stewards of justice, especially in matters involving the accountability of public officials.”
“We call on the Senate to allow the impeachment process to proceed with fairness, transparency, and due diligence, guided by truth and a deep sense of patriotic responsibility. To cut short this process is not only a disservice to justice but also a betrayal of public trust,” said DLSU.
“We stand with all citizens and institutions who seek truth, transparency, and transformative governance. We pray that our leaders find the courage to do what is right and just—not what is easy, popular, or politically convenient,” it added.
`De facto dismissal’
Earlier, Sen. Bato dela Rosa confirmed to the public that he initiated the creation of a resolution seeking to declare the “de facto dismissal” of the case against Duterte.
The resolution states that the postponement of the reading of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte from June 2 to June 11 leaves the current Congress “with no sufficient time to fully deliberate and resolve” the articles “as the matter cannot cross over to the incoming 20th Congress which will convene on the fourth Monday of July 2025.”
With this, the document states that the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte “must necessarily be deemed de facto dismissed, by virtue of the inability of the Senate to properly consider the same because of the timing of the transmittal thereof by the House of Representatives.”
According to Dela Rosa, he consulted a few of his colleagues regarding the matter. In fact, he confessed that his resolution already has a number of backers.
But for Senate President Chiz Escudero, Dela Rosa’s draft measure remains a “mere scrap of paper” unless it gets tackled upon in the plenary.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives in a historic move which garnered over 200 signatures from lawmakers.
On the same day, Feb. 5, the articles of impeachment were transmitted from the House of Representatives to the Senate, but the upper chamber adjourned its session without tackling the document./mr
