Philippine bishops press Senate to begin Duterte impeachment trial

The prelates called on lawmakers to fulfill their constitutional duty after the House voted overwhelmingly to impeach Duterte a second time.

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on May 12 urged the national senate to act swiftly on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte after the countryʼs House of Representatives impeached her for the second time.

“We appeal to the members of the Senate to abide by what the Constitution directs: to proceed with the trial and to decide the case against the Vice President by summoning witnesses, hearing testimony, and voting according to the evidence and, above all, the demands of righteousness and justice,” CBCP President Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa said.

On May 11, the House of Representatives voted 257–25, with nine abstentions, to impeach Duterte for the second time, making her the first official in Philippine history to be impeached twice. The House forwarded the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.

“We urge the senators to avoid any act that may be perceived as evading their sworn duty or circumventing the requirements of the Constitution,” Garcera said. “You now have this opportunity to restore our peopleʼs faith and confidence in our public institutions that adhere to the rule of law and serve the common good in the pursuit of justice and truth.”

The bishops also called on Filipinos to remain engaged throughout the proceedings.

“Let us fulfill our civic duties and responsibilities by ensuring a fair and credible trial so that all may see and hear clear, verified evidence and arguments,” the CBCP statement said.

“We must also remain vigilant in monitoring the proceedings. In this way, we uphold the truth, safeguard the integrity of public discourse, and strengthen our nation against misinformation, disinformation, and manipulation.”

In a separate statement, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos also urged Filipinos to monitor the impeachment closely.

Duterte is accused of systematic misuse of confidential funds totaling 612.5 million Philippine pesos (roughly $10 million) paid to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during her tenure as education secretary, including irregular disbursements, suspicious liquidations, and recipients that could not be verified.

Allegations also include that she amassed wealth beyond her lawful income and failed to accurately disclose her assets.

She allegedly bribed government officials to influence procurement and financial decisions.

Additionally, she was accused of threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Whatʼs next for the Senate?

The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate on May 13, and the Senate is required to act as an impeachment court.

The Senate will conduct a trial in which senators serve as both judges and jurors. Removal from office requires conviction by a vote of two-thirds of all senators — 16 out of 24.

If convicted and removed from office, Duterte would be barred from holding any public office. She has already declared her candidacy for the 2028 presidential election.

A previous impeachment by the House in February 2025 was voided by the Supreme Court on constitutional grounds.