12/05/2026
STATEMENT OF LAW DEANS AND PROFESSORS
ON THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT
We, the undersigned law deans and law professors, wish:
1. To laud the courageous Members of the House of Representatives who voted to impeach Vice-President Sarah Z. Duterte on the grounds, factual and legal, articulated in the Report of the Committee on Justice;
2. To decry the brazen attempts of members of the Senate to forestall the impeachment trial of the Vice-President, first, by voting for a change of leadership on the eve of the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, and, second, apparently deciding to adopt the “Escudero definition” of “forthwith” – which, at that unfortunate time, meant, “when it pleased the Senate President”;
3. To remind the Senators that refusing to sit as a Court of Impeachment is not a constitutional option, considering that Article XI, Section 3, paragraphs 3 and 4 are clear that when at least one-third of the Membership of the House of Representatives EITHER votes in affirmance of the Committee Report OR files the Impeachment Complaint, these constitute the Articles of Impeachment and trial “forthwith” proceeds – the clear intendment of the Constitution being that “trial proceeds as a matter of course”;
4. To invite attention of the Members of Senate – as well as the Filipino people – to the fact that refusal of public officers to perform a duty imposed by law, particularly by the Constitution, constitutes dereliction of duty that is administratively actionable and conferring an undue advantage and benefit on a person not entitled to it is an indictable criminal offense under Republic Act No. 3019;
5. To urge our law enforcers to cooperate with international legal processes so that, in case the State should so decide in accordance with the relevant provisions of Republic Act No. 9851, Mr. Bato de la Rosa, be made to stand trial before the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
6. To rally all Filipinos to see to the faithful compliance by all public officers of their sworn duty to uphold the Constitution and to abide by the Rule of Law.
Retired Justice ADOLFO S. AZCUNA
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
Dr. ANTONIO LA VINA
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO
Dean, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
Mons. GARY S. FORMOSO, JCD
Professor, San Beda University Graduate School of Law
ANNA MARIA D. ABAD
Dean, College of Law
Adamson University
MA. SOLEDAD MARGARITA DERIQUITO-MAWIS
Dean, College of Law
Lyceum of the Philippines University
CARLO L. CRUZ
Professor, College of Law
Lyceum of the Philippines University
Dr. JEMY GATDULA
Dean, University of Asia and the Pacific Law School
MARIVIC A. TRABAJO-DARAY
Dean, College of Law
Holy Name University
Tagbilararn City
ROGER TERENCE P. CAMUA
Professor,
University of Asia and the Pacific Law School
RABINDRANATH S. POLITO
Dean, College of Law
Misamis University
Fr. JAIME B. ACHACOSO, JCD
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
Dr. GEORGE V. CARMONA
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
MARIA MILAGROS N. FERNAN-CAYOSA
Dean, College of Law
University of the Cagayan Valley
Tuguegarao City
DOMNINA T. RANCES
Dean, College of Law
Ateneo de Naga University
Dr. JUAN RUFFO D. CHONG
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
Dr. MANUEL P. S. SOLIS
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
LINDA L. MALENAB-HORNILLA
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
YASMINE LEE R. TADEO
Dean, School of Law
Saint Louis University
CHRISTINE ANGELICA B. ELVEÑA
Professor, School of Law
Saint Louis University
MELANIE P. PIMENTEL
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
EMMANUEL NICOLE VALENCIA
Professor
College of Law
Adamson University and
Institute of Law
Far Eastern University
DARWIN P. ANGELES
Senior Lecturer
College of Law
University of the Philippines
Tañada-Diokno School of Law
De La Salle University
Fr. JEROME U. ROSALINDA, JCD
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
FR. LHEM J. NAVAL, LLM
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
VIRGILIO R. de los REYES
Dean, Tanada-Diokno School of Law
De La Salle University
EDMUND TAYAO, PhD
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
PETER D. NG, MD, JD, PhD
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University
Fr. DANILO R. FLORES, JUD
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University and
University of Santo Tomas
Dr. CRISTINA A. MONTES
Professor, Graduate School of Law
San Beda University and
University of Asia and the Pacific Law School
BENEDICT G. KATO
Professor, Faculty of Civil Law
University of Santo Tomas
MA. LOUELLA MARTINEZ - ARANAS
Professor, College of Law
Lyceum of the Philippines University
MINERVA AMBROSIO
Professor
Adamson University College of Law
Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law
FERDINAND TAN
Former Dean
San Sebastian Recoletos – College of Law
CYRUS SUALOG
Professor
Adamson University College of Law
Far Eastern University Institute of Law
SENEN AGUSTIN DE SANTOS
Professor, College of Law
Lyceum of the Philippines University
