The country’s oldest business group is pushing the Senate to perform its constitutional duty and start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, warning that failure to do so could breed “instability.”

In a statement, the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI) said it was clearly defined in the 1987 Constitution that the impeachment trial should proceed immediately.

“The Constitution is very clear: in case a resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of the members of the [Lower] House...trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed,” CCPI said.

“Forthwith in any dictionary, means ‘immediately,’ ‘without delay,’” the group stressed.

The word, “forthwith,” has been the crying call of various civil society and academic groups in urging the upper chamber to convene as an impeachment court.

The House of Representatives impeached the Vice President on Feb. 5 on the grounds of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

The articles of impeachment, which details the impeachment complaint, were then swiftly transmitted to the Senate.

However, the complaint was only referred to the upper chamber’s committee on rules on Monday, June 9, with the convening of an impeachment court still not certain.

The three-month delay aligned with the recess of the 19th Congress during the period of the midterm elections.

CCPI, headed by its president Jose Luis Yulo, said the delay is unconstitutional as the recess of Congress is not recognized under the rules of impeachment.

“The Senate no longer acts as a legislative Senate per se, but as an impeachment court having acquired automatic jurisdiction over the impeachment case per the Constitution,” it pointed out.

Once convened, the business group said the impeachment trial should carry over into the 20th Congress “until acquittal or conviction.”

Senators Risa Hontiveros and Koko Pimentel echoed this view, describing the impeachment as a non-legislative function of the Senate, which suggests that it should continue once the new slate of lawmakers assume their seats on July 28.

“We are a country that is governed by the ‘rule of law,’ not of men,” said CCPI.

The group said if the Senate fails to act on their constitutional duty, this may create an “environment of instability.”

CCPI said this will negatively impact the local business community, and potentially, may even have sweeping effects on international businesses.

“We pray that the members of the Senate will properly and duly perform their official duties as mandated by the Constitution,” it said.

Apart from CCPI, Makati Business Club (MBC) also urged senators to commence the impeachment trial, citing the need to uphold accountability to maintain investor confidence.