What are they hiding?
By Ivy Betalmos
The 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that “public office is a public trust.” Those words are not mere decorations in our fundamental law. They are a reminder that public officials are accountable to the people at all times and that transparency is essential to democracy.
This is precisely why the decision to close portions of an impeachment proceeding to the public and media raises serious concerns.
An impeachment trial is not an ordinary political event. It is the highest mechanism of accountability available against the nation’s most powerful officials. Its purpose is not only to determine guilt or innocence but also to assure the public that justice is being carried out fairly, openly, and without political manipulation.
Supporters of secrecy may argue that certain procedural discussions require privacy. Yet the Senate Rules on Impeachment do not explicitly provide blanket authority to conduct pre-trial proceedings behind closed doors. In matters of such immense public importance, openness should be the rule, not the exception.
When doors are closed and cameras are shut out, public trust begins to erode. Citizens are left wondering what is happening beyond the walls of power. Transparency disappears, and speculation fills the void.
The question naturally follows: What are they hiding?
Are they concealing weaknesses in the Articles of Impeachment? Are there procedural irregularities that would not withstand public scrutiny? Or is there a carefully orchestrated political script being played out away from the eyes of the Filipino people?
The Senate’s credibility, and ultimately the integrity of the impeachment process itself, depends on public confidence. That confidence cannot thrive in secrecy. Democracy demands sunlight. Accountability requires visibility. And justice, especially in an impeachment trial, must not only be done, it must be seen to be done.
The Filipino people deserve answers, not closed doors.