The inaction of the Philippine Senate on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, now cemented by a Supreme Court ruling, speaks volumes. While Sara's critics raise charges—some dramatic, some serious—the Senate’s nonintervention reflects a deeper, more calculated political strategy: no one wants to challenge 32,208,417 votes (representing 61.53% of the total), especially when that support is backed by a silent but powerful bloc like Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).
A Mandate Too Big to Ignore
In the 2022 elections, Sara Duterte garnered the largest electoral tally ever recorded in Philippine history. That figure is political armor. It represents a powerful mandate that lawmakers could not dismiss lightly. For many senators—especially those eyeing re‑election—targeting a figure with such mass support would be politically reckless.
The INC Factor: Open, Not Silent
That electoral strength is magnified by the open backing of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), whose bloc voting power has long been able to shift tight races. Far from staying silent, INC explicitly opposed efforts to impeach Duterte, organizing rallies under the banner of “peace” and denouncing the process as a waste of time. In Philippine political culture, such a display is more than support—it is a signal to allies and institutions alike: stand down.
Sara's Enduring Popularity and Political Legitimacy
Yet numbers alone aren’t everything. Recent Pulse Asia polling underscores Duterte’s ongoing popularity. Between March 23–29, 2025, Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan survey found that Vice President Duterte earned 59% approval, with only 16% disapproval among surveyed Filipino adults. She also posted a strong 61% trust rating, the only major official to do so in that round of polling. These figures confirm not just enduring support but continued legitimacy in the eyes of millions.
Political Calculus Over Constitutional Duty
Combine Duterte’s mass appeal with INC’s behind‑the‑scenes sway, and the Senate’s reluctance becomes explainable. Impeachment is as much a political act as a legal one; in the Philippines, public sentiment and political risk often take precedence over constitutional principles. Why antagonize a popular vice‑president whose support remains rock‑solid and whose name still resonates across the electorate? And why alienate a bloc that continues to influence critical races?
A Mechanism Undermined by Alliances
This isn’t an endorsement of inaction. It reflects a political reality: the impeachment mechanism—designed to check power—has become hostage to electoral calculations and unspoken alliances. The recent ruling by the Philippine Supreme Court declaring the House-led impeachment of Vice President Duterte as unconstitutional further reinforces the Senate’s refusal to act.
A Convenient Exit: The Supreme Court Ruling
With the legal basis struck down and political costs still high, any effort to revive the case seems both improbable and unwise. Most likely, it will falter—not because of a lack of substance, but because Vice President Duterte is simply too vote-rich to touch. In the end, the Senate will keep its head down. It knows that in Philippine politics, popularity protects, and silence serves strategy.
Not Paralysis, But Strategic Stillness
The Senate’s passivity is not born of ignorance or paralysis—it is calculated. With Vice President Sara Duterte enjoying strong public approval and reinforced by powerful allies like the Iglesia ni Cristo, any move to pursue impeachment would be tantamount to political suicide.
Senators, many of whom are either eyeing reelection or aspiring to higher office, are acutely aware of the perils of going against someone whose mass base, financial backing, and religious bloc support remain formidable. In such a volatile environment, silence becomes not weakness but a form of survival—a holding pattern until the tides of power shift more decisively.
Stalling as Strategy
Lastly, the Supreme Court ruling gave the Senate a perfect alibi. It allowed senators to wrap their inaction in the language of legality and restraint.
By hiding behind jurisprudence, they can avoid alienating Duterte’s supporters while maintaining a veneer of institutional respectability. This is textbook political evasion—stall long enough and you can look principled while doing nothing.
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