Justice on Hold?!

By Herman M. Lagon

Whether Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial should proceed immediately or wait until Congress resumes is more than a legal debate—it tests the country’s commitment to accountability. It also stirs memories of the EDSA People Power Revolution, a moment when Filipinos proved that justice delayed is justice denied.

The Constitution is clear: impeachment trials must begin forthwith—immediately and without delay. Yet Senate President Chiz Escudero’s reluctance to convene the Senate raises concerns that political convenience might outweigh constitutional duty. Delaying the trial suggests the powerful can dodge accountability when it’s convenient.

With serious charges like fund misuse, betrayal of trust, and threats against President Marcos Jr., senators like Koko Pimentel and Risa Hontiveros insist the Senate must act now—just as during past vote canvassing sessions. Accountability should not be paused for convenience.

Duterte’s camp, meanwhile, has turned to the Supreme Court, arguing that procedural missteps in the House violated the Constitution’s “one-year bar” on multiple impeachment complaints. But to many, this feels like a legal distraction designed to delay facing the charges.

Her father’s legacy of impunity casts a long shadow. Under Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency, thousands of lives were lost in a brutal drug war that bypassed due process. Now, his daughter faces the same systems of accountability her family once seemed to evade.

It is worth noting that Sara stands accused of plotting to assassinate Marcos Jr., engaging in large-scale corruption through the misuse of confidential funds, failing to denounce China’s aggression in the South China Sea, betraying public trust through questionable political actions, and bribing government officials.

Nonetheless, this trial is more than political theater—it reflects whether those in power are truly subject to the law. As public pressure builds, echoes of EDSA’s spirit grow louder: accountability cannot wait for a convenient season. If senators choose to delay, they risk betraying a constitutional duty and public trust.

The choice is simple but profound: uphold the Constitution now or risk letting impunity take root again. Just as Filipinos stood their ground in EDSA decades ago, today’s generation must demand action from leaders who promised to serve, not shelter, the powerful.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a “student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.