Another business group calls for Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Vice President Sara Duterte is seen in a screengrab from a video posted on her Facebook page. Another group has urged the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial against her. 

MANILA, Philippines – A group of major business leaders, foreign chambers, and civic organizations on Friday called on the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Justice Reform Initiative (JRI), a policy group advocating for judicial transparency and integrity, said that no one is above the Constitution and chided senators for making a mockery of it by putting partisan politics ahead of the rule of law.

READ: FINEX joins calls for Congress to act on impeachment case vs Sara Duterte

“The impeachment complaint while potentially precarious to the political career of Vice President Sara Duterte, is also her best opportunity to prove her innocence against allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes,” the group said in a statement signed by its president Jose Jerome Pascual III.

“Any attempt by the Senate to remand, defer, or dismiss the Articles without trial is not merely irregular, it is unconstitutional,” he added.

Pascual said the Charter permits only two possible outcomes in an impeachment trial, acquittal or conviction.

He added that there was also no provision allowing avoidance or indefinite delay, even during the transition to the 20th Congress.

“Our Senators must now seize the moment to serve the public with integrity. We call on them to rise above political loyalty, display their patriotic zeal, and respect their oath of allegiance to the Constitution and the rule of law,” he said.

Other private sector groups that previously called for the impeachment to proceed include the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX),  Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), and Makati Business Club (MBC).