The Senate is now fully set for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The target schedule: more than 90 days, a full three months of hearings, evidence, and arguments. Four articles of impeachment will be tackled — grave threats, misuse of confidential funds, bribery in the Department of Education, and unexplained wealth. 

But history reminds us: this is not the first time the nation has witnessed such political drama. Former President Joseph Estrada faced impeachment. Former Chief Justice Renato Corona was removed through the same process. Now, the second highest official of the land is in the spotlight. The question remains — did past impeachment trials truly benefit the ordinary Filipino? 

In theory, impeachment is a democratic safeguard. It is meant to uphold accountability and transparency. In practice, however, it often becomes a political stage — a venue for politicians and power players to showcase their skills, or to position themselves for the next election. Accountability turns into a slogan, transparency into spectacle. And in the end, those who benefit most are the ambitious and the vested interests. 

Meanwhile, the daily struggles of ordinary citizens continue. Rising rice prices, low wages, and scarce jobs remain unresolved. For the millions of Filipinos living “isang kahig, isang tuka” — hand-to-mouth — the impeachment trial offers little relief. Three months of hearings will not fill their rice bowls, nor will it guarantee better social services. 

The Senate, if it is truly the “hall of democracy,” must prove that impeachment is more than ritual. It must send a clear message: no official, no matter how high, is above accountability. But if the process ends in compromise, alliances, and personal gain, public trust will sink even deeper. 

In the end, the real issue is not whether the Vice President will be removed or acquitted.

The more pressing question is: will ordinary Filipinos gain anything from this trial? If the answer is no, then impeachment remains a symbol of politics — not of justice, and certainly not ‘rice bowl’ or “palabigasan” of the Filipino people.