The Mandate for Accountability and the Rule of Law

This article offers a theological-ethical reading of the Philippine Supreme Court's decision in Duterte v. House of Representatives, which invalidated the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President. Framing the ruling as a theological 'kairos,' the author draws on Pope John Paul II's encyclical Centesimus Annus to argue that the House's mandate for accountability and the Court's insistence on due process are complementary, not competing, paths to the common good. Invoking the principle that the end does not justify the means, together with virtues of political prudence and a redefined 'prophetic witness' for legislative bodies, the article proposes that the House can pursue accountability zealously while respecting constitutional process, using oversight, budget scrutiny, and anti-corruption legislation rather than procedurally flawed shortcuts.