Influential business and civil society groups are urging the Senate to convene as an impeachment court as soon as possible, warning that refusal to try the case against Vice President Sara Duterte could weaken the country’s institutional credibility and investment appeal.

In a joint statement on Thursday, May 14, the groups urged the Senate to initiate the constitutional process of convening as an impeachment court following its receipt of the articles of impeachment against Duterte from the House of Representatives.

“We, the undersigned organizations, respectfully call on the Senate of the Philippines to fulfill its constitutional duty to convene as an impeachment court and conduct a fair, impartial, and transparent trial based on the evidence and the law,” the groups said.

Signatories to the joint statement include business groups such as Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Makati Business Club (MBC), Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), and Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines (SharePHIL).

It also includes civil society organizations such as Alliance of Women for Action Toward Reform (AWARE), AYC Consultants (AYC), Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Sy & Partners (SYP Law), and Justice Reform Initiative (JRI).

The groups emphasized that it is the Senate’s corresponding duty to try and decide an impeachment case, arguing that it is not a discretionary political choice but a constitutional obligation.

“Any refusal to convene the impeachment court, or any attempt to dismiss the case without hearing the evidence, will undermine the rule of law and weaken trust in the Senate as a key democratic institution,” they said.

The groups urged the Senate leadership to uphold its sworn duty under the Constitution by convening the impeachment court without delay.

They said the court must ensure a fair and credible trial that would hear the evidence of both sides, rendering judgment solely on “the basis of the Constitution, the law, and the evidence.”

“The legitimacy of democratic institutions rests on their consistent fidelity to constitutional mandates, especially under conditions of political pressure,” the statement read.

If the Senate fails to act according to its constitutional duty, the groups said this would have significant implications for the business community.

The groups argued that the country’s economic stability, investment climate, and long-term growth hinge on the credibility of its institutions and their consistent adherence to constitutional processes.

“When the rule of law appears subordinate to political interests, investor confidence and institutional credibility suffer,” the groups said.

Vice President Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, was impeached for the second time by the House of Representatives last Monday, May 11, over alleged graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other high crimes.

The Lower House first impeached the country’s second-highest official in February 2025, but the complaint was struck down by the Supreme Court (SC) even before the Senate convened as an impeachment court after it was found to have violated the constitutional ban on filing more than one impeachment complaint against the same official within a year.

“We likewise emphasize that a proper impeachment trial is not a presumption of guilt. It is also the Vice President’s opportunity to answer the allegations, present her defense, and prove her innocence through due process,” the groups said.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said on Thursday that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court on May 18.

The transmittal of the articles of impeachment from the House of Representatives to the Senate was not without controversy, as it happened amid a chaotic Wednesday in the upper chamber marked by gunfire and threats of arrest against Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a separate statement, FPI said “recent events at the Philippine Senate remind us that democracy is tested not only in moments of consensus but also in times of discord.”

FPI chairperson Elizabeth Lee said the business community is asking the government to ensure that laws remain upheld and governance continues to function with transparency and accountability.

Only through strengthening institutions, she said, would the country signal to both domestic and foreign investors that the Philippines remains committed to integrity, stability, and opportunity.

“By standing firm on the foundations of law, peace, security—investor confidence and the business community can continue to operate and adapt,” she added.