“THE TRUTH will set us free,” so the Scripture promises. And today, truth is on trial in the Philippines. The bottom line is whether truth will win — or whether abuse will flourish.
Beyond the political noise, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio now stands before us all, and more than the evidences, its outcome actually hinges firstly on the senators’ oath of office, them who will stand as senator-judges to the impeachment hearings.
If every senator-judge upheld to defend the truth (and not abuse), defend the people (and not an individual), and defend our Constitution (not anybody’s political future), then truth will dominate. But if that oath is trampled and twisted, truth will be a casualty, but only temporarily.
Will our senator-judges be bold enough to stand by their oath of office and defend the truth? Or will they become twisted chameleons who, against their own conscience, against the evidences set before them, will still choose to defend and embrace abuse in all its raw dealings?
The current debates surrounding the impeachment have exposed a troubling reality. The question to settle is not “Whose side are you on?” but “What is truthful, based on the actual evidences?”
Truth belongs to no political camp or man-made ideologies. In its highest essence, truth emanates from God for God is truth — unadulterated, pure, and timeless. That is why God promises that “the truth will set us free.”
Senators swear to uphold the Constitution and serve the Filipino people. But that oath becomes an outright lie when, as judges, they will ignore the evidences, frustrate the people’s interest, and trample our Constitution’s demand for transparency and accountability.
When judges defend abuse, they can do so only by first trampling and twisting the truth.
But when truth is lifted up and defended, abuse is defeated and its venom is denied the chance to spread. With truth, the nation can begin to heal — our land, our people, our future.
The choice really is in our hands. But it starts not at the course of the trial, but its starts at a time when we elect our leaders: Garbage in-garbage out; Selfishness in-selflessness out.
As for the impeachment, if the allegations are false, truth demands acquittal. If the allegations are true, truth demands accountability. Justice is the consequence of truth. What God shows and declares to be truthful, no man should put asunder.
In either case, truth — not political convenience — must prevail.
The danger arises when senator-judges defend personalities instead of principles.
Problems rise when loyalty is not to the discernment of truth but parochial partisanship. When truth is not pursued, abuse flourishes, and people and the nation suffers.
Abuse survives when people selectively compromise the truth.
Corruption survives when loyalty grows stronger than integrity, and greed becomes the chosen path towards debauchery.
Now, scripture warns against such compromise: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good
evil.” (Isaiah 5:20). “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” (Proverbs 17:15)
God’s concern has never been political victory, but righteousness to prevail. Throughout the Bible, prophets confronted rulers whenever they abandoned justice and truth.
The challenge before Filipinos in this impeachment is therefore moral than political: Can we defend truth without defending abuse? For whom must truth finally stand: the good of the people or the perpetuation of abusive individuals?
For Christians, loyalty belongs first to God’s truth — not to politicians, parties, or dynasties. Defending truth may expose allies, challenge loyalties, and cost popularity. And when these Senator-judges stop defending the truth, then they are actually defending abuse. And when abuse crosses the line, the people’s wrath is the inevitable consequence. Our history already repeatedly proved that people power is not far off as an option.
Thus, when abuse is defended, the nation’s moral fiber weakens, and we all pay the price.
“He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.” (Proverbs 17:15)
But when truth is boldly pursued until victory, we can claim the promise that, indeed, “the truth will set us free.” (John 8:32)/PN
