Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan joined public calls to push through with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying that delaying the process is a sin and a form of injustice.

In a statement posted on Facebook on June 9, 2025, Villegas said the nation has the right to know the truth, and this truth can only be revealed through legal proceedings.

“To delay the trial or even to abort it is to suppress the truth. It is a sin,” he said.

“The nation has a right to the truth that can only be established by law and evidence. To deprive the people of the full truth is a form of robbery. It is keeping something not yours. It is a sin,” he added.

Villegas said the impeachment trial is not just a legal matter, but a moral responsibility. He said ignoring this duty harms justice and the common good.

He warned that personal ambition and comfort should not take priority over truth and accountability.

The post was released days before the celebration of Independence Day. Villegas urged the public to remember that true freedom comes only from truth and justice.

“May the Lord set us free from our own devils of lies, injustice, mediocrity and selfishness,” he said.