The country’s most influential business groups have joined forces to urge the Supreme Court (SC) to reconsider its decision voiding the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional, warning that it could erode trust in the government and impact investor confidence.

In a joint statement on Friday, Aug. 15, Makati Business Club (MBC), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP),  Integrity Initiative (II), and Justice Reform Initiative (JRI), called on the SC to “resume its role in defending the Constitution.”

“The decision of the Court as it stands sends a dangerous signal throughout the bureaucracy that abuse of power and corruption carry no consequence,” the groups said.

They said that without accountability, the government loses trust, which could institutionalize the flaws in the country’s rule of law.

The groups also warned of economic repercussions, including contraction in investor confidence, rise in cost of doing business, and challenges in the supply chain. They said that consumers will ultimately pay the price.

“Everyone needlessly suffers—as our history as a nation repeatedly taught us,” the statement read.

The High Court decided last month that the articles of impeachment filed by the House of Representatives against Duterte was unconstitutional due to violating the one-year bar rule.

To recall, four impeachment complaints were filed against the Vice President in the lower chamber, of which three were filed in December last year. Only the fourth complaint, filed in February, materialized to impeach the official.

The SC ruled that the first three complaints were dismissed when the 19th Congress adjourned for the holiday break; as such, the constitutional rule on the one-year ban has taken effect.

The business groups explained that the High Court treated the first three complaints as “deemed initiated,” even if these were not acted upon by the House.

“If the framers of the Constitution intended that inaction by the House shall make an impeachment ‘deemed initiated,’ it would have been so indicated like the rest of the provisions above stated,” they said.

Apart from violating the one-year rule, the SC said the impeachment case was voided due to violation of due process.

In response, the groups noted that impeachment is neither a criminal nor administrative proceeding, adding that it provides specific venues for due process.

“The Court, by its decision in this case as it stands, unfortunately prevented due process from happening,” the statement read.

Citing Article XI of the Constitution, the business groups emphasized that it is clear that the impeachment process exists to serve the public.

“It is not to shield a government official from the rigors of defending himself or herself, but to safeguard the people’s right to demand accountability from those who wield authority supposedly on their behalf,” they added.