HOW TO KILL AN IMPEACHMENT CASE IN 100 DAYS OR LESS: The Senate's Escape Plan for Sara Duterte

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

A storm is brewing in the quiet chambers of power—and it's not the kind that makes headlines just yet. A leaked draft resolution—unsigned, undated, and unnumbered—is now circulating among political insiders and legal circles. But don't let its unfinished status fool you. It's fully written. Fully argued. And fully loaded with implications.

This isn’t just a legal document. It’s a blueprint for a political escape. A roadmap to bury the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte—not with a bang of accountability, but with the whimper of procedural technicalities.

And yes, it reads like a script.

The Plot: How to Kill an Impeachment Without Ever Holding a Trial

At the heart of this shadowy resolution is a singular objective: Make the impeachment case vanish—without a trial, without a vote, without a single moment of scrutiny.

Here’s the rationale they’re laying out:

The 100-Day Expiry Trick

The draft argues that since more than 100 days have passed since the House of Representatives transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, the case should be considered dead.

Why? Because the Senate didn't act forthwith—a term now being interpreted as "act immediately, or not at all."

Blame the Clock, Not the Crime

With Congress set to adjourn sine die on June 13, the draft claims Senate rules forbid carrying the case over into the next session. Translation? Let the clock run out—then blame the clock.

A Convenient Interpretation of Rights

The resolution dares to invoke Sara Duterte’s right to a “speedy disposition of cases” under Article III, Section 16 of the Constitution.

But let’s be clear: this clause was meant to protect the voiceless from delay—not to shield the second highest official in the land from ever standing trial.

The Legal Sleight of Hand

The resolution crafts a twisted logic:

Delay = Dismissal

Since the Senate didn’t convene “forthwith,” the impeachment is moot and academic. No need for a trial—just let it expire.

The Constitution as Alibi

By framing dismissal as a constitutional mandate rather than a political maneuver, the Senate gets to wash its hands clean.

"We didn’t kill the case," they’ll say. "The law did."

Neri v. Senate (2008) as the Nail in the Coffin

The resolution cites precedent: if Congress doesn't act within its term, proceedings supposedly can’t be revived. This isn’t a call for justice—it’s a procedural escape hatch.

Behind the Curtain: What the Leak Tells Us

Make no mistake—this leak wasn’t accidental. It’s part of a calculated soft launch. And it reveals much more than the text lets on:

This is a Script, Not a Resolution

It hasn’t been filed, but it’s written to perfection. This is legal theater, just waiting for the right cast of senators to play their parts.

The Lobbying Has Already Begun

Allies of Duterte may not have the numbers to acquit her outright—but they don’t need to. They only need to sell the idea that a trial is now impossible. The courtroom becomes irrelevant if the curtain never rises.

This is a Trial Balloon and a Shield

Leak it, see how the public reacts. If the backlash is weak, file it. If it’s strong, wait. Meanwhile, senators get plausible deniability. Sara gets political insulation.

Everyone Walks Away Clean

Sara skips the trial. The Senate avoids backlash. The House gets blamed for delay. The Constitution takes the fall.

And the Filipino people? They’re fed the lie that this was all just bad timing.

What’s Really at Stake

This isn't just about Sara Duterte. This is about institutional accountability. About whether the highest officials in the land can be shielded by delay and legal acrobatics.

If this resolution moves forward, the Senate won’t just dodge an impeachment—it will set a chilling precedent:

Delay the trial long enough... and you’ll never have to face justice at all.

That’s not due process. That’s constitutional gaslighting—a cover-up in legal disguise.

The Verdict We Deserve

No matter where you stand politically, this moment demands clarity and courage. The Filipino people deserve transparency, not trickery. Justice, not justifications. A real trial, not a silent burial.

If the Senate allows this resolution to pass, it will have killed more than just one impeachment case. It will have slain the very idea that truth and accountability still matter in our democracy.

The choice now is stark—and the clock is ticking.

Will the Senate face the music?

Or will it quietly follow the script, close the curtain, and walk away?

Because if this resolution becomes law, impeachment in the Philippines will no longer be a process. It will be a performance. And we? We’ll be the audience left clapping for an empty stage.

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