The Filipino people's interest in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment goes beyond political victory, focusing on whether the process can provide credible answers about official conduct.
The withdrawal of three impeachment articles has shifted attention toward whether the proceedings can deliver both procedural fairness and meaningful public accountability.
The lawfare claim shifts attention toward political motive, but the column argues that motive, like wrongdoing, still requires evidence rather than assumption.
The moment challenges the Philippines to protect accountability from becoming political siege, where institutions are trusted only by the side they favor.