MANILA, Philippines — The Liberal Party (LP) of the Philippines said Thursday that Filipinos should be concerned over the incidents that happened at the Senate on Wednesday, calling it a failure in leadership.
It noted that what happened was no longer about personalities or politics, but the weakening of respect for institutions, the Constitution and the rule of law.
“We say this with the understanding that the constellation of events that led to gunfire seems driven by a single imperative: to prevent the truth from emerging in the proper legal forum — whether in The Hague, or in our own country’s impeachment court,” the party said in a statement.
“This is a time of crisis; crisis calls for leadership; and leadership — in the executive and legislative branches — has failed. There can be no other conclusion when we see the rule of law being ignored, our institutions being dismantled, and the very fabric of our democracy being torn,” it added.
The LP said people should not have more burden seeing the country’s democratic institutions plunge into chaos. “The Liberal Party believes this moment calls not for more noise or partisan escalation, but for moral clarity, fidelity to constitutional processes, and a broader national vision that sheds partisan escalation for level-headed, fair, truth-driven governance."
The group urged Sen. Ronald dela Rosa to “peacefully submit himself to lawful processes and orders issued by competent authorities” and called on government colleagues to commit to constitutional duties over the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“The Articles of Impeachment have already been transmitted. The Senate is duty-bound to act accordingly, fairly, independently and without delay,” the party said.
“We call on Senate leadership to immediately ensure the orderly organization of committee chairmanships and memberships. The work of the Senate cannot be paralyzed: Prices continue to rise; electricity costs remain persistently high, and power reserves are thinning. Transport and food insecurity worsen; the agricultural crisis continues, and millions of Filipino families face daily anxiety,” it said.
“This moment is a test of whether our institutions are still capable of acting according to law, duty and democratic principle even under political pressure. Because democracy survives only when institutions choose principle over power,” it added.
