The deans of Ateneo schools, the Lasallian Family, and Adamson University were among the country’s educational institutions that joined the call for the immediate start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The leadership of the three educational institutions were unanimous on Sunday for the Senate to immediately proceed with the impeachment trial of Duterte.

Ateneo

"We are making this urgent call in faithful response to our moral and spiritual duty as educators and formators of future Ateneo lawyers. We pray that the Philippine Senate will likewise respond to its moral and constitutional duty as true servants of the public upon whom the public trust is reposed, one that is faithful to the truth and to the Filipino people," Ateneo said in a joint statement.

The statement was signed by the deans of the schools and colleges of law of Ateneo de Manila University, Xavier University—Ateneo de Cagayan, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and Ateneo de Naga University.

“We, the undersigned Deans of the schools and colleges of law of Ateneo de Manila University, Xavier University—Ateneo de Cagayan, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and Ateneo de Naga University collectively call for the immediate commencement of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio and its continuation into the 20th Congress, if necessary,” it said.

“We confirm that as Jesuit, Filipino, and Catholic legal educational institutions, we are deeply committed in our teaching and formation missions to truth, justice, and the rule of law,” it added.

Lasallian Family

“As members of the Lasallian Family in the Philippines, committed to the values of faith, service, and communion in mission, we raise our collective voice in strong condemnation of any and all efforts—covert or overt—to prematurely discard or obstruct the constitutional process of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte,” the Lasallian Family said in its own statement.

The educators cited the constitutional mandate of the Senate to fulfill its function to serve as an impeachment court.

“The impeachment is not merely a constitutional exercise; it is a sacred mechanism enshrined in the 1987 Constitution to ensure that the highest public officials remain answerable to the people they serve. Any attempt to suppress the process undermines the pursuit of truth, and the very foundation of democracy, the rule of law, and the principle that no one is above the law,” it said.

“We remind our Senators—both of the 19th and 20th Congress– of their constitutional duty to act as impartial stewards of justice, especially in matters involving the accountability of public officials. They are not mere spectators to political expedience; they are guardians of the Republic’s integrity. The least they can do is to assure the Filipino people that the rule of law prevails, even when political pressures mount,” the statement added.

Adamson University

In its “Call for the Senate to Forthwith Proceed with the Impeachment Trial of Vice President Sara Duterte,” Adamson University urged the upper chamber to start the proceedings.

“The entire Adamson University community stands united in our firm call for the Senate of the Philippines to forthwith proceed with the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. We express deep concern over any and all efforts to delay, obstruct or prematurely dismiss this constitutionally mandated process,” the school said in its statement.

In citing the 1987 Constitution, Adamson said, “this is a clear constitutionality order to act immediately, and does not in any way imply that the Senate has discretionary powers in this regard. Thus, any delay or refusal to act undermines this express mandate and weakens the foundations of our democratic institutions,” the statement said.

“To our Dear Senators, this is not the time for neutrality or passive observation; this is the time for principled leadership and decisive action. Do what is right instead of what is convenient for you. You must immediately commence impeachment proceedings as mandated by the Constitution, without further delay. You have procrastinated far too long… The Constitution demands action forthwith, and so do we,” the Adamson statement ended.

The statements are the latest in what has become several calls from various educators and their stances regarding the impeachment of Duterte. Among them is the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) which said that the senators have a "sacred duty” on the impeachment proceedings and professors at the San Beda University Graduate School of Law.

—RF/KG, GMA Integrated News

Source: GMA Network.