Labor organizations Workers and Peasants’ Party (WPP) and Laban Manggagawa have expressed support for the constitutional process of holding high-ranking public officials accountable but warned against allowing the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to become a prolonged political spectacle that diverts attention from pressing national concerns.
In separate statements, the groups stressed that impeachment is a constitutional mechanism designed to ensure accountability among the country’s highest officials.
“No public official—not even the Vice President, should be beyond scrutiny or answerability,” Laban Manggagawa said, while WPP emphasized that officials entrusted with public funds must answer serious allegations through the institutions established under the Constitution.
However, both organizations argued that accountability should not come at the expense of governance or the welfare of ordinary Filipinos.
Laban Manggagawa noted that the Senate has approved up to 92 trial days for the impeachment proceedings, potentially making it the longest impeachment trial in Philippine history.
The group said that although the Senate has appropriated about P27 million for its operational expenses related to the trial, the overall public cost, including salaries of lawmakers and congressional personnel, security, administrative support, logistics, media operations, and the opportunity cost of months of legislative work, could be significantly higher.
It added that while public estimates claiming the proceedings could cost billions of pesos have circulated, no official government figure has confirmed those amounts.
The WPP likewise raised concerns over the financial and opportunity costs of the proceedings, saying prolonged impeachment hearings could consume legislative time that might otherwise be devoted to addressing urgent national issues.
Both groups underscored that impeachment is fundamentally a political process under the 1987 Constitution rather than an ordinary criminal or civil trial.
They said senators, while serving as senator-judges, remain elected officials exercising political judgment under a constitutional framework, making impeachment distinct from judicial proceedings.
The organizations also cautioned against what they described as the “judicialization” of impeachment, saying public discourse has become overly focused on courtroom tactics, celebrity lawyers, procedural maneuvering, and dramatic exchanges instead of the constitutional question of whether an official should remain in office.
According to the groups, the Senate’s eventual verdict should not be interpreted as a definitive determination of criminal guilt or innocence.
They stressed that an acquittal does not necessarily establish innocence, while a conviction does not replace criminal proceedings where applicable.
The labor groups also highlighted the country’s continuing socioeconomic challenges, including low wages, contractual employment, rising prices, overcrowded hospitals, inadequate public services, and the difficulties faced by farmers and workers.
They argued that regardless of the outcome of the impeachment trial, ordinary Filipinos will continue to confront these issues unless government attention remains focused on governance and public service.
“The Philippines deserves both accountability and governance,” the WPP said.
Laban Manggagawa echoed the call, urging political leaders to ensure that impeachment remains faithful to its constitutional purpose.
“The Filipino people deserve accountability. But they also deserve a government that spends far more time solving the problems of workers than staging the politics of the next election,” the group said.
Both organizations called on political leaders to pursue constitutional accountability while keeping legislative attention centered on issues that directly affect Filipinos, including decent jobs, living wages, food security, affordable healthcare, quality education, and transparent governance.IMT
