ILOILO City — The Archdiocese of Jaro joined the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in urging Filipinos to pray for justice and peace amid mounting political tension surrounding the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, while calling on senators to fulfill their constitutional duty and immediately proceed with the trial.
In a statement reiterated Thursday, May 14, the Archdiocese of Jaro echoed the CBCP’s appeal for accountability, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law as political tensions continue to simmer.
“Let us continue to pray for our government leaders — for a deeper sense of accountability and transparency — and for justice and peace to prevail in our nation. May the Lord guide our nation in this time of trial, and may His Spirit inspire us to walk together in truth and charity,” the Archdiocese of Jaro said.
The archdiocese also urged the faithful to “fulfill our civic duties and responsibilities by ensuring a fair and credible trial” and to “strengthen our nation against misinformation, disinformation, and manipulation.”
The CBCP, through its president Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, directly appealed to members of the Senate to comply with the Constitution by convening as an impeachment court, hearing witnesses, examining evidence, and deciding the case based on justice and truth.
“We urge the senators to avoid any act that may be perceived as evading their sworn duty or circumventing the requirements of the Constitution. You now have this opportunity to restore our people’s faith and confidence in our public institutions that adhere to the rule of law and serve the common good in the pursuit of justice and truth,” the CBCP said.
The CBCP stressed that the impeachment proceedings should not be delayed, saying the Senate must convene “at the soonest possible time.”
“To delay the trial is to delay justice for both the Filipino people and the Vice President,” the CBCP added.
The bishops also called on Filipinos to closely monitor the proceedings and remain vigilant against false information and manipulation surrounding the impeachment process.
“We must also remain vigilant in monitoring the proceedings. In this way, we uphold the truth, safeguard the integrity of public discourse, and strengthen our nation against misinformation, disinformation, and manipulation,” the CBCP said.
The CBCP said its “deep desire and fervent prayer is that we arrive at the truth through this constitutional process, with the hope that this will strengthen our respect for and adherence to the rule of law, a key pillar of a genuine and stable democracy.”/PN