Makati Business Club calls for independent Senate leadership

The Makati Business Club (MBC), one of the country’s largest business groups, emphasized the need for an independent and credible Senate leadership as the chamber convenes as an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a statement, the MBC said restoring the credibility and integrity of the Senate depends on the Senate President, who should serve as the institution’s “moral compass, administrative guardian, and public face.”

“If the public perceives the Senate President as someone who is purely partisan, and does not possess the necessary independence and moral ascendancy that such a position requires, public confidence in the institution is eroded,” the group said.

“At this important moment, we encourage senators to remain guided by the Constitution, uphold institutional responsibility, and keep the broader national interest at the center of the process,” it added.

The statement came a week after the Senate convened as an impeachment court for Duterte’s trial over allegations of culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.

The Senate leadership changed on May 11, with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano taking over as Senate President, the same day the House of Representatives voted to impeach Duterte over allegations of graft and corruption and other high crimes.

On the evening of May 13, gunshots rang out at the Senate premises, prompting a lockdown just as the articles of impeachment against Duterte were delivered to the chamber past 7:30 p.m.

The MBC, along with other business and civic groups, on May 14 called on the Senate to fulfill its mandate through a fair, impartial, and transparent trial based on evidence and the Constitution, warning that the rule of law should not give way to political interests.

“The Makati Business Club respectfully reminds all our senators that you were elected by the people to serve the people and not pursue personal, political or business interests,” the group said.

“Will you prioritize long-term democratic stability over short-term political survival? History will judge you by your actions during this critical period,” it added.—MCG, GMA News