By Atty. Howie Calleja
The Philippine Senate, once a bulwark of democratic accountability, now stands accused of abandoning its constitutional duty. Its impartiality has been eroded by the corrosive influence of partisan politics and the shadow of recent impeachment trials. At the heart of this decline is a painful truth: too many senators have chosen political convenience over public service.
Our Constitution carefully divides the power of impeachment. The House of Representatives initiates the charges, while the Senate serves as the court of judgment. This system of checks and balances assumes a Senate that will act with fairness and independence. But recent events raise serious doubts about whether that standard still holds. Can the Senate still be trusted to defend democracy—or has it become a mere extension of executive power?
When sitting as impeachment judges, senators take a separate oath. That oath demands neutrality, integrity, and loyalty to the Constitution above all else. But the tension between their political ambitions and judicial role has opened the door to dangerous compromise. When constitutional duties are set aside for political gain, the integrity of the process—and the institution itself—is severely damaged.
In a defining moment, eighteen senators allowed themselves to be stripped of their roles as impartial judges. They ceased to be protectors of justice and let their political, personal and economic interest prevail over the best interest of the nation and the constitution thus becoming pawns in a larger political game. The scandalous act of 18 Duterte pawns didn’t just affect one trial—it marked a betrayal of the very values the Senate was built to uphold.
The consequences of this betrayal are deep and lasting. Impeachment proceedings—meant to safeguard the nation—have become tainted by partisan motives. Due process is cast aside. Public trust erodes. And faith in the Senate as a guardian of truth and justice continues to weaken. This is not just political failure—it is a threat to the very core of democratic accountability.
Rebuilding trust will require more than speeches. It demands a return to principle. Senators must recommit to fairness, due process, and the Constitution. They must rise above party lines and act not as political players, but as stewards of justice.
The Senate now stands at a crossroads. It can reclaim its identity as a bulwark of democracy—or continue its descent into irrelevance as a rubber stamp for power. The choice is urgent. The nation is watching. And history will remember.
