OPINION
Tenten Tugaff
Impeached
Photo credit: Inday Sara Duterte
The House of Representatives made history yesterday by impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte, marking the first time such a move has been taken against the second-highest elected official in the nation.
After two months of inaction on at least three impeachment complaints, the House finally secured 215 signatures from congressmen, fast-tracking the fourth complaint and sending it directly to the Senate, which will serve as the impeachment court.
Despite the historic nature of this development, the momentum has been overshadowed by a palpable sense of anticlimax.
The impeachment case against Duterte is likely to be “parked” in the Senate for a significant period of time.
With the Senate’s recess starting yesterday, the trial is unlikely to begin until after June 2, 2025, when the Senate reconvenes.
While the impeachment process has officially begun, it is poised for substantial delays, largely due to the Senate’s reluctance to act swiftly.
Several senators, including relatives of sitting lawmakers, are up for election and re-election in May 2025.
For them, the political fallout from this case is too significant to tackle immediately.
Although procedural rules can be cited to justify the delay, the real reason lies in the political implications.
Many senators, who will act as judges in the impeachment trial, face immense pressure to delay the proceedings.
It seems they are eager to buy time, hoping the storm will pass before they are forced to act.
This temporary lull in the process benefits all parties involved, providing them with the one luxury they need most: time.
For Sara’s camp, the delay offers an opportunity to regroup, strategize, and build a robust defense against the allegations.
For both the administration and anti-Sara factions, the delay allows more time to negotiate, strike deals, and sway undecided senators.
However, for the ordinary people, this delay represents justice postponed—and perhaps, justice denied.
From the very start, this case has been bogged down by unnecessary delays, leading many to question whether the system is truly functioning as it should.
Although the impeachment process has officially begun in the 19th Congress, it is increasingly likely that the trial—and possibly the verdict—won’t take place until after the 2025 elections, when a new Senate takes office.
In other words, the trial could be postponed until the 20th Congress, with a reconstituted Senate, likely with new members, starting deliberations on the case.
The House has already completed its part of the process, even submitting the names of congressmen who will act as prosecutors during the trial.
The Senate secretary general has received the formal transmittal of the verified impeachment complaint from his House counterpart—but that is as far as it has gone.
Meanwhile, those pushing for Sara Duterte’s impeachment believe that the Senate’s reorganization after the 2025 elections will make securing the necessary two-thirds majority for a conviction more achievable.
Time will tell if this assumption proves correct.
Amidst the political noise, some argue that even if Sara Duterte is convicted and removed from office, it still won’t be enough.
True accountability for public officials requires more than just removal from office.
It demands that they face the full force of the law for their alleged illegal actions.
Whatever the outcome, one thing is clear: this case will significantly shape the political landscape leading up to the 2028 presidential elections.
As with past impeachment dramas we’ve witnessed as a nation, the real winners will likely be the opportunistic politicians who play the long game.
Once again, the people of the country will be left as the ultimate losers—watching the spectacle unfold, filled with frustration, disappointment, and a sense that true justice remains out of reach.
After two months of inaction on at least three impeachment complaints, the House finally secured 215 signatures from congressmen, fast-tracking the fourth complaint and sending it directly to the Senate, which will serve as the impeachment court.
Despite the historic nature of this development, the momentum has been overshadowed by a palpable sense of anticlimax.
The impeachment case against Duterte is likely to be “parked” in the Senate for a significant period of time.
With the Senate’s recess starting yesterday, the trial is unlikely to begin until after June 2, 2025, when the Senate reconvenes.
While the impeachment process has officially begun, it is poised for substantial delays, largely due to the Senate’s reluctance to act swiftly.
Several senators, including relatives of sitting lawmakers, are up for election and re-election in May 2025.
For them, the political fallout from this case is too significant to tackle immediately.
Although procedural rules can be cited to justify the delay, the real reason lies in the political implications.
Many senators, who will act as judges in the impeachment trial, face immense pressure to delay the proceedings.
It seems they are eager to buy time, hoping the storm will pass before they are forced to act.
This temporary lull in the process benefits all parties involved, providing them with the one luxury they need most: time.
For Sara’s camp, the delay offers an opportunity to regroup, strategize, and build a robust defense against the allegations.
For both the administration and anti-Sara factions, the delay allows more time to negotiate, strike deals, and sway undecided senators.
However, for the ordinary people, this delay represents justice postponed—and perhaps, justice denied.
From the very start, this case has been bogged down by unnecessary delays, leading many to question whether the system is truly functioning as it should.
Although the impeachment process has officially begun in the 19th Congress, it is increasingly likely that the trial—and possibly the verdict—won’t take place until after the 2025 elections, when a new Senate takes office.
In other words, the trial could be postponed until the 20th Congress, with a reconstituted Senate, likely with new members, starting deliberations on the case.
The House has already completed its part of the process, even submitting the names of congressmen who will act as prosecutors during the trial.
The Senate secretary general has received the formal transmittal of the verified impeachment complaint from his House counterpart—but that is as far as it has gone.
Meanwhile, those pushing for Sara Duterte’s impeachment believe that the Senate’s reorganization after the 2025 elections will make securing the necessary two-thirds majority for a conviction more achievable.
Time will tell if this assumption proves correct.
Amidst the political noise, some argue that even if Sara Duterte is convicted and removed from office, it still won’t be enough.
True accountability for public officials requires more than just removal from office.
It demands that they face the full force of the law for their alleged illegal actions.
Whatever the outcome, one thing is clear: this case will significantly shape the political landscape leading up to the 2028 presidential elections.
As with past impeachment dramas we’ve witnessed as a nation, the real winners will likely be the opportunistic politicians who play the long game.
Once again, the people of the country will be left as the ultimate losers—watching the spectacle unfold, filled with frustration, disappointment, and a sense that true justice remains out of reach.
Roseten Tugaff
Roseten “Tenten” Tugaff is an experienced journalist with a rich background in reporting. He began his career in the mid-’90s, working with the now-defunct Manila Chronicle and The Manila Times shortly after graduating from college. Throughout his career, he has also held various roles in government. Currently, he is a freelance media relations practitioner and hosts his own online political podcast.
Feb 7, 2025
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