THE PHILIPPINE Senate today looks less like the “august chamber” of constitutional and democratic deliberation and more like the main stage of a national political circus. At the center are impeachment, Senate leadership coups, walkouts, remote-voting controversies, International Criminal Court (ICC)-related drama and endless partisan maneuvering. The Senate, supposedly the chamber of sober judgment, has become a battlefield of political factional survival.

To be clear, impeachment is a constitutional process. Accountability is necessary in any democracy. If serious allegations are raised against Vice President Sara Duterte, they must be heard, tested and decided in accordance with law, evidence and due process. The Senate has the constitutional duty to sit as an impeachment court, not as a cheering squad, not as a demolition team, and certainly not as a refuge for any political factions.