Amid suggestions from some senators not to proceed forthwith, with the trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, 136-bishop strong Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has come out with a statement urging the Senate to do what the Constitution says, to proceed with the trial and to decide the case against the Vice President by summoning witnesses, hearing testimony, and voting according to the evidence and, above all, the demands of righteousness and justice.
With 257 yes votes and 25 No votes on May 11, 2026, the House of Representatives impeached Sara Duterte, the House of Representatives, accusing her culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, bribery, graft and corruption and other high crimes.
The House says Sara’s conduct “falls below the standards and norms required of public officers, and reflects a pattern of behavior inconsistent with public accountability, integrity, and fidelity to public trust, particularly from one occupying the second highest office in the land. Her actions exhibit her true character – a public officer who defies, and has the proclivity to continue defying, established rules and norms of checks and balances, accountability, and rule of law, including the basic respect for our democratic institutions.”
“These acts, taken together, establish probable cause that Respondent Vice President Duterte committed culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, and betrayal of public trust, and demonstrates her unfitness to continue in public office, for which she should be bound over for trial before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court,” the House articles of impeachment say.
Full text of the CBCP statement:
Serve the Common Good
in the Pursuit of Justice
and Truth
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:32
To our dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The House of Representatives, heeding the overwhelming sentiment of the Filipino people and finding probable cause, has voted by far more than the requisite one-third of its membership to impeach the Vice President and, as directed by the Constitution, to forward the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.
We appeal to the Members of the Senate to abide by what the Constitution directs: to proceed with the trial and to decide the case against the Vice President by summoning witnesses, hearing testimony, and voting according to the evidence and, above all, the demands of righteousness and justice.
We urge the Senators to avoid any act that may be perceived as evading their sworn duty or circumventing the requirements of the Constitution. You now have this opportunity to restore our people’s faith and confidence in our public institutions that adhere to the rule of law and serve the common good in the pursuit of justice and truth.
We make this urgent appeal to not delay the trial and to convene the Senate as an impeachment court at the soonest possible time. To delay the trial is to delay justice for both the Filipino people and the Vice President.
To our fellow Filipinos, let us fulfill our civic duties and responsibilities by ensuring a fair and credible trial so that all may see and hear clear, verified evidence and arguments. We must also remain vigilant in monitoring the proceedings. In this way, we uphold the truth, safeguard the integrity of public discourse, and strengthen our nation against misinformation, disinformation, and manipulation.
Our deep desire and fervent prayer is that we arrive at the truth through this constitutional process, with the hope that this will strengthen our respect for and adherence to the rule of law, a key pillar of a genuine and stable democracy.
We ask Our Lady of Fatima, whose feast we celebrate on May 13, to pray for our leaders, our nation, our Church, and our people. Please join us in prayer and action.
For the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines:
(Sgd) + Most Rev. Gilbert A. Garcera, D.D.
Archbishop of Lipa
President, Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines
May 12, 2026