PHL political accountability is negotiable

The approaching impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is shaping into a constitutional spectacle riddled with uncertainty, political maneuvering, and dangerous double standards. What should have been a solemn process to determine accountability of a high-ranking public official now threatens to become a prolonged circus where legal tactics matter more than truth.

The Senate itself appears unstable. Leadership changes remain possible, especially amid growing criticism against Alan Peter Cayetano over allegations that the Senate became a sanctuary for fugitive Senator Ronald dela Rosa. The controversial shooting incident inside the Senate complex only intensified suspicions that the chaos served as cover for dela Rosa’s escape from authorities attempting to enforce the International Criminal Court warrant of arrest against him. 

Whether true or not, the optics are devastating for an institution expected to uphold the law.

For ordinary citizens, harboring or obstructing the arrest of a fugitive can lead to criminal charges. Yet when powerful politicians are involved, accountability suddenly becomes negotiable. 

Calls to investigate officials who allegedly prevented the National Bureau of Investigation from executing the ICC warrant are not unreasonable. If laws are selectively applied depending on political influence, public trust in democratic institutions collapses further.

Ironically, while Duterte’s allies are expected to aggressively steer the impeachment proceedings toward acquittal, their political numbers are no longer guaranteed. Dela Rosa’s fugitive status weakens one camp, while possible legal troubles confronting other senators could reshape voting dynamics. The once-solid wall of protection around the Vice President may not be as stable as projected.

Still, the trial itself risks becoming detached from the concerns of ordinary Filipinos. Months of technical arguments, procedural motions, witnesses, and legal jargon may overwhelm public attention while more urgent national controversies quietly disappear from scrutiny. The unresolved flood control anomalies, questionable national budget insertions, and broader governance failures are already fading into the background.

The Vice President may even choose resignation as a strategic exit, avoiding direct confrontation while preserving eligibility for a future presidential run. Such a move would not answer lingering questions; it would merely postpone them.

In the end, the impeachment trial may expose a painful truth: in Philippine politics, accountability is often negotiable, scandals are temporary, and very few among the powerful ever truly pay the price.