UP Broadcasters Slam Legarda Over Senate Power Shift, Warn of “Impunity” Amid Sara Duterte Impeachment

The University of the Philippines Broadcasting Association (UPBA) has issued a strongly worded statement against Senator Loren Legarda after she joined the newly formed Senate majority bloc that installed Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President amid the looming impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In its statement titled “A Challenge to Our Alumna, Senator Legarda,” the organization accused the Senate of being reorganized to potentially weaken or derail the impeachment process involving Duterte, who is facing allegations of grave misuse of public funds and betrayal of public trust.

Legarda, a UPBA alumna and former student leader, joined the new Senate majority alongside Senators Pia Cayetano, Mark Villar, and Camille Villar. She was later elected Senate President Pro Tempore, the second-highest position in the chamber.

The group described the abrupt political realignments as a reflection of “political survival, convenience, and elite bargaining,” warning that democratic accountability is being sacrificed for political interests.

UPBA also raised concerns over the participation of Senator Ronald dela Rosa in the leadership vote after months of avoiding public scrutiny over the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the Duterte administration’s bloody anti-drug campaign.

“Now, the same official who once boasted unwavering loyalty to Rodrigo Duterte seeks protection from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” the statement read.

The organization challenged Legarda to “reflect on the values she once claimed to stand for” and ensure that the Senate does not become “a sanctuary for impunity” or “a bargaining table for political dynasties seeking to preserve power.”

UPBA also called for full and unrestricted media access to all Senate proceedings related to the impeachment process, stressing that transparency is essential in maintaining public trust in democratic institutions.

“The impeachment process exists precisely to ensure that allegations of corruption, abuse, and misconduct are subjected to constitutional scrutiny not buried beneath political maneuvering and shifting alliances,” the group said.

The statement comes as political tensions continue to escalate in the Senate following the dramatic leadership change that reshaped alliances ahead of the expected impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte.