Big business group 'deeply concerned' over stalled Sara Duterte impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) is "deeply concerned" over the Senate's decision to return the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives, instead of proceeding with a trial.

“We believe that the Senate has a constitutional duty to conduct, without any delay or disruption, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Abandoning this mandate undermines the integrity of our democratic processes," the group said in a statement on Wednesday.

The influential business group said that the issue was not about politics, but about core democratic values.

“We believe that this matter goes beyond politics - it is fundamentally about good governance and the rule of law,” it said.

The MAP added that a full trial would be an affirmation of institutional transparency and fairness.

'Economic impact'

READ: Sara Duterte impeachment: What you need to know

Finally, MAP warned of broader economic consequences if legal institutions were weakened.

“Upholding the rule of law is essential not only to safeguard our institutions but also to ensure a stable, predictable environment for economic growth. It builds investor confidence, attracts job-generating investments, and ultimately benefits all Filipinos,” it said.

After hours of closed-door deliberation on Tuesday, the Senate, sitting as the impeachment court, voted 18 to 5 with no abstentions to return the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte to the Lower House.

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Senate sends back impeachment articles to House for review

(2025/06/11-13:29)