The diminishing Senate stature

A major component of a functioning/developing democratic society is the strength of its institutions and the respect of the governed for these institutions.

- Ruben Almendras

In its three major branches, the judiciary is usually the most respected for its probity and independence in their actions and decisions. The executive and legislative are given some leeway as partisan and personal politics have more influence on them. However, there are limits on the debasement of these branches, beyond which their members are voted out of office or their institutions are abolished.

For a young democracy like the Philippines, these institutions have been tested a few times, especially in the martial law years, in the EDSA Revolution, the impeachment of President Estrada, and in the Duterte presidency. Marcos abolished the legislature and commandeered the judiciary. Then in the Estrada and Duterte presidencies, the legislative branch was co-opted in favor of the executive branch. These three major democratic institutions survived, but are in bad shape and are again under assault in the VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial and in the 2028 elections.