One impeachment proceeding has ended even before it began. The other progresses as complaints continue to grow.

The mood in the House of Representatives regarding impeachment complaints could shift easily depending on which political bloc determines whether the substance of the complaints is sufficient.

Just this week, the committee declared the two impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. insufficient in substance. This allows them to skip deliberations on the allegations.

On the other hand, the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte continue to increase, with the latest count at three. She clearly does not have the committee’s majority support.

This marks the second impeachment proceeding against her. If the alignment of the stars in the sky do not fail, the impeachment would obviously proceed all the way to the Senate for trial.

Former senator Franklin Drilon was right: impeachment is not just a judicial matter, but one steeped in political maneuvering. This intertwining of justice and politics is hard to digest for a public that really wants to know the truth behind the allegations.

Having covered politics for many years as a journalist and having covered two Senate impeachment trials, it is unbelievable that President Marcos will remain uninvolved in the Duterte impeachment, especially with the future of his administration at stake.

No amount of denial or assurances from the President’s communications team will convince me otherwise. Drilon’s sentiment that he was not born yesterday resonates with me. I too am not naive to the realities of the world.

The implication is clear — political realities often overshadow legal formalities. What’s particularly worrying is the possibility that the impeachment complaints against both the President and the Vice President are merely strategic maneuverings leading up to the 2028 presidential derby.

Drilon believes that the success or failure of having Duterte face trial will depend on the Senate’s leadership. This situation highlights the fragility of the current political dynamics. The potential influence of the next Senate President on the outcome further demonstrates the close connection between politics and governance.

The impeachment process could serve as a veil for the 2028 elections, and it raises alarm bells. If the senators engaged in this process prioritize political alliances over public interest, then we must question the efficacy of our democratic institutions.

We hope that the senators will remain grounded in evidence rather than engage in politics, though this is becoming increasingly unachievable. Political agendas can often overshadow the objective.

The current wave of impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte is not simply a procedural exercise; it reflects broader tensions and ambitions within our political framework.

Past attempts to impeach her — along with the Supreme Court’s intervention — show how deeply entrenched these dynamics are, making it clear that we are witnessing a complex chess match rather than a straightforward judicial process.

Transparency is tied to public trust and the attainment of justice. True justice demands more than mere procedural correctness. Public interest should serve as the ultimate measure of justice.

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