PPCRV, businessmen press senators to convene impeachment court for Sara Duterte

Several groups called on senators to convene the impeachment court and conduct a fair, impartial, and transparent trial of Vice President Sara Duterte based on evidence and the law, and failure to do so will affect the credibility of institutions and economic stability, investment.

The groups are: Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the Makati Business Club, and Movement for Restoration for Peace and Order, Financial Executives of the Philippines, Justice Reform Initiative, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), AWARE, Sy and Partners, and Shareholders' Association of the Philippines.

The groups were referring to the Articles of Impeachment that were forwarded to the Senate by the House of Representatives after the latter decided to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte on allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.

"The formal transmittal by the House of Representatives of the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President initiates a solemn constitutional process intended to uphold accountability, due process, and the rule of law," the groups said in a statement.

"We, the undersigned organizations, respectfully call on the Senate of the Philippines to fulfill its constitutional duty to convene as an Impeachment Court and conduct a fair, impartial, and transparent trial, based on the evidence and the law," they added.

The said process, they added, "is not a discretionary political choice, but a constitutional obligation."

Refusal to convene the impeachment court or any attempt to dismiss the case without hearing the evidence, "will undermine the rule of law and weaken the trust in the Senate as a key democratic institution."

"For the business community, the implications are significant," the groups said.

"Economic stability, investment, and long-term growth depend on credible institutions and consistent adherence to constitutional processes. When the rule of law appears subodrinate to political interests, investor confidence and institutional credibility suffer," they added. — BAP, GMA News