The Jesuit Commission on the Social Apostolate stands with the people in calling for the immediate continuation of the Impeachment Trial. Delaying or canceling it would not only obstruct justice—it would endanger the very foundations of our democracy.
As workers in the social apostolate, we recognize that justice delayed is indeed justice denied—especially for the most vulnerable members of society, including the poor.
The Jesuit Commission on the Social Apostolate represents various Jesuit social centers across the country. We join the unanimous call for the Impeachment Trial at the Senate to proceed posthaste, for its further delay or cancellation altogether would be a travesty of justice and a serious slap at our democracy. As social development workers, we are very concerned about the Trial as this impacts our work for the poor.
First, two to three of the Articles of Impeachment filed against the Vice-President involve corruption, specifically, the use of public funds and the amassing of illegal wealth. These are serious charges for these involve public money that could have been used efficiently for basic services and for poverty alleviation. Corruption has been the bane of any serious governmental anti-poverty program, as well as, a drain to any genuine economic development strategy for the county. The World Financial Review estimates that the Philippines in fact loses ten billion dollars ($10 B) to corruption annually. This staggering amount is money wasted especially at a time when 52 percent or 14.4 million Filipino families consider themselves poor (SWS, April 2025). Indeed, as Pope Francis reminded us, “Corruption is ultimately paid by the poor.”
Second, the Impeachment trial is a test case for the rule of law in this country. In principle, the Constitution provides that lady justice is blind and therefore applied equally to everyone, rich or poor. A double standard however seems to be at play as far as the Vice-President is concerned. As observed by many, when a teacher had threatened a President, immediately he got the full force of the law. Now that the Vice-President is being charged for grave death threats against high officials of the land, an incident seen by all including our children, the Senate seems to be dilly-dallying: are there two sets of laws for this country—one for the rich, and another for the poor? Are we governed by the rule of law or of men? Are the poor in this country forever discriminated against by our system of justice? What then will happen to the 30 thousand EJK families crying out for justice, or the millions of tribal Filipinos defending their ancestral domain rights? Was President Ramon Magsaysay just being glib when he said, “those who have less in life should have more in the law?”
Finally, the Impeachment trial is also an acid test for Philippine democracy. The constitution says that sovereignty or power resides in the Filipino people. Essentially, that’s what democracy means. However, despite surveys saying that two-thirds of the population want the Vice-President to face the Impeachment court (SWS, Octa Research), the Senate seems to be hesitant in respecting the general public opinion. Political interests seem to be at play. Indeed, it has been observed that notwithstanding our democratic institutions, a few powerful political families are in control of the country, ignoring the welfare of the majority, especially the poor. Ours is still an elite democracy, the rule of a powerful oligarchy. The Ateneo School of Government has observed how 90 percent of the elective positions in the last two national elections went to political dynasties including the Senate where four pairs of senators come from such families. It has also found that by and large this has in fact contributed to the underdevelopment of the country.
A lot is therefore at stake in the Impeachment Trial. And not just the fate of one individual. Indeed, it is not just the Vice President or the Senate that is on trial, but the whole democratic project which is the locus for real economic development and progress. For the sake of our fragile democracy and for the poor we serve, let the Impeachment Trial proceed forthwith.
Signed,
Jesuit Commission on Social Apostolate
Fr. Nono Alfonso, SJ
Fr. Silvino Borres, SJ
Fr. Manuel Francisco, SJ
Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ
Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ
Dr. Anna Marie Karaos, PhD.
Marlene Gatpatan-Bedia
Atty. Rene Banez
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