TACLOBAN CITY — A religious group has spoken out against the Supreme Court’s decision to stop the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, calling the ruling “a delay of justice” and a “missed opportunity for moral clarity” in a time of deepening national disillusionment.
In a strongly worded letter titled “For Judgment Must Begin at the House of God,” the Apostolic Orthodox Church – Asia Pacific Diocese (Philippines) urged the public, the government, and the Church itself to reflect on the broader implications of the ruling, issued earlier this month.
“Has truth been served? Or merely postponed?” the letter issued Sunday, July 27 said as it lamented that legal technicalities have overtaken the people’s demand for accountability.
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court halted the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte, citing constitutional grounds.
But for the Apostolic Orthodox Church, the issue is far more than legal.
“This is not simply about a procedural bar or legal restraint. This is about the cry for moral clarity in a time when truth is bruised, institutions are doubted, and the people’s voice is left unheard,” the letter stated.
Without naming names, the Church’s statement implied concern over what it described as the increasing politicization of legal and democratic processes in the country.
“When the tools of accountability are deflected by technicalities, when power becomes its own defense, and when the guardians of justice are themselves cloaked in partisan lineage, we must not only examine the law—but ourselves,” the letter read.
The letter issued appeals to the Supreme Court and other courts that legitimacy rests not merely on appointments or procedures, but on a commitment to justice that goes beyond silence or delay.
It also appealed to the lawmakers saying that impeachment must never be reduced to political theater or blocked out of fear or convenience, but pursued with moral courage.
It also urged the public to remain vigilant, discerning, and engaged.
“We are not chaplains of the powerful,” the Church stressed. “We must resist the temptation to dress partisanship in religious language.”
While the letter stopped short of explicitly endorsing the impeachment complaint, it clearly called for accountability and truth, both in governance and in public discourse.
The Apostolic Orthodox Church – Asia Pacific Diocese, though not among the country’s largest religious institutions, has gained attention in recent years for its growing grassroots presence.
Vice President Duterte, for her part, has yet to publicly comment on the Supreme Court ruling. Her allies in Congress had earlier dismissed the impeachment effort as politically motivated and lacking in merit.
The impeachment complaint stemmed from various allegations, including questions over the use of confidential funds during her tenure as education secretary. However, supporters argue that she has not committed any impeachable offense and remains popular among many sectors.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
