(June 8, 2025) — An increasing number of schools, organizations, and student councils are pressing the Senate to immediately begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, warning that continued delays threaten the principles of accountability and the rule of law.
Over the past week, several academic institutions and legal organizations released statements amid reports of a draft Senate resolution seeking to block the impeachment proceedings.
The draft, authored by Senator Bato dela Rosa — a known Duterte ally — claims the trial should not push through, citing Duterte’s right to a speedy trial and the “non-continuing” nature of the Senate.
But impeachment prosecutor and incoming ML Rep. Leila de Lima, along with Akbayan Rep. Percy Cendaña, who endorsed the complaint, pushed back, saying that the Senate must first convene as an impeachment court before it can act on any issue related to the case.
Here’s a list of schools and organizations urging the Senate to move forward with the trial:
Ateneo, La Salle, Adamson University
On Sunday, the Ateneo universities, the Lasallian network, and Adamson University released separate but similarly urgent statements calling for the trial to begin without delay.
The statement from the Ateneo law deans — from Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Zamboanga, and Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan — stressed their responsibility to uphold democratic values as educators.
“We are making this urgent call in faithful response to our moral and spiritual duty as educators and formators of future Ateneo lawyers… 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 joint statement.
READ HERE: Ateneo School of Government
The Lasallian Family called the impeachment a “sacred mechanism” to hold officials accountable. Meanwhile, Adamson University urged lawmakers to reject “neutrality or passive observation.”
“Any attempt to suppress the 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,” said the Lasallian Family.
“To our Dear Senators, this is not the time for neutrality or passive observation; this is the time for principled leadership and decisive action,” added Adamson University.
Ateneo School of Government
On Saturday, the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) also backed the call.
“The impeachment process is a sacred duty enshrined in our Constitution. It is the primary mechanism to ensure that our elected officials would remain faithful to their sworn duty to serve the public,” said ASoG.
READ HERE: Ateneo School of Government
Philippine Bar Association
The Philippine Bar Association (PBA) echoed the urgency in a statement issued the same day.
“The very purpose of a Constitution is to remove certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy. There is nothing optional when the Constitution imposes a duty, and there is nothing to vote on,” said the PBA.
READ HERE: Lawyers’ group urges Senate to start VP Sara impeachment trial
Philippine Political Science Association
The board of trustees of the Philippine Political Science Association, which includes academics from various universities, warned that failure to act on the impeachment sends the wrong message.
“The Senate’s failure to act decisively constitutes a grave disservice to the Filipino people, who expect their leaders to uphold the public interest rather than serve a narrow political agenda,” said the association.
San Beda University
Law professors from San Beda University Graduate School of Law also joined the call.
“There is no sound constitutional and legal basis for any delay in the trial. In fact, an undue delay sends the signal to the nation that mandated processes are thwarted for ulterior ends,” the professors said in a collective statement.
University of the Philippines
More than 100 faculty members from the UP College of Law released an open letter urging the Senate to hear the articles of impeachment against VP Duterte.
READ HERE: UP College of Law
University of Santo Tomas
The University of Santo Tomas also released a short statement urging the Senate to “forthwith” proceed with the impeachment trial.
Some student councils also joined the call for the impeachment trial to proceed.
UST’s Central Student Council also weighed in, calling the allegations against Duterte a “blatant violation of public trust that must not go unexamined.”
The Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance, meanwhile, reminded the Senate that this is not about politics, saying “it is about the greater good prevailing over partisan politics and blind idolatry.”
Duterte is accused of multiple offenses, including constitutional violations, bribery, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.
She was impeached by the House of Representatives last February, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint—enough to automatically transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate under Section 3(4), Article XI of the Constitution.
The Senate is set to formally receive the articles on June 11. From there, Duterte will have 10 days—until June 21—to respond, unless she seeks an extension. Senate President Chiz Escudero earlier said the trial process would begin this month, but it remains unclear if proceedings will move forward before the 19th Congress ends on June 30.
The 1987 Constitution mandates that once the articles are transmitted, the Senate must “forthwith proceed” with the trial.
(AGD)
