07/06/2025
𝐀 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
𝘼 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙤 𝙈𝙖𝙭𝙞𝙢𝙤 𝙐𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙄𝙩𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘼𝙢𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙮
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)
As we gather to celebrate Pentecost Sunday, we recall how the Risen Christ breathed the Holy Spirit upon His disciples, and empowered them with renewed conviction to carry forward His mission. Today, the same Spirit calls each of us to live our faith courageously, to speak truthfully, and to act resolutely amid injustice and impunity.
Moved by the spirit of Pentecost, we raise our collective concern regarding the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, transmitted by the House of Representatives to the Senate on February 5, 2025. The complaint cites serious and well-documented allegations of grave misuse of confidential public funds. Yet, four months later, the Senate has failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to deliberate on the matter with urgency and take appropriate action.
The delay in the impeachment trial reveals a deepening crisis of accountability in our nation’s governance, where those entrusted with power appear to stand above the law. Withholding deliberation signals a dangerous complacency toward unchecked power at the highest levels of government. This failure risks turning the Senate - meant to be a pillar of accountability - into a refuge for impunity.
We firmly urge the Senate to rise above partisan interests and political expediency, and to act with conscience by addressing the impeachment complaint with transparency, integrity, and impartiality. To sidestep the trial is to institutionalize political impunity, an act that tears at the fabric of our democracy and crowns the powerful as despots above the law.
Rooted in the Gospel and committed to the people’s quest for truth, justice, and peace, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente stands firm in upholding accountability in public life. We believe that governance must be anchored in moral principles and directed toward the service of the common good, and never as an instrument for self-preservation or the protection of personal interests.
We encourage our clergy and lay members to stay informed, engage in constructive dialogue, and actively participate in civic efforts related to the impeachment process. Likewise, we urge all people of goodwill to support initiatives that call on the Senate to fulfill its responsibility and promote accountable governance. Together, let us work to cultivate a political culture where leaders are genuinely answerable to the people.
As we gather for Pentecost, let us pray that the Holy Spirit may move mightily among us, rekindle the fire of faith in our hearts, and grant us the courage to remain steadfast as followers of the Risen Christ. May this moment open a pathway to true renewal for our nation and people, as we grow together in the Spirit’s gifts of peace, justice, and hope.
In Christ,
The Most Rev. Joel Porlares
Obispo Maximo
Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Pentecost Sunday
June 8, 2025
Manila, Philippines
