THERE is no justifiable reason to outright dismiss the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte without going through a full trial before the Senate.
This was the assertion made by Atty. Antonio Audie Z. Bucoy, spokesperson for the House prosecution team, as the legal proceedings entered a new phase following Duterte’s filing of her answer ad cautelam before the Senate impeachment court.
“Sa aming paninindigan, there is no justifiable reason to dismiss without a trial,” Bucoy told reporters in a press conference Tuesday via Zoom.
“Dahil ang mandato is to try and to decide, not to dismiss without trial,” he added.
He, however, stressed that the prosecution continues to put its trust in the Senate to fulfill its constitutional role with impartiality.
“Kami po ay naniniwala pa rin na ang mga husgado ng impeachment court ay gagawin kung ano ang wasto… in accordance with the Constitution, and in accordance with what is right,” Bucoy stated.
The House of Representatives, with the endorsement of more than one-third of its members, adopted the Articles of Impeachment in February and transmitted these to the Senate, which has convened as an impeachment court in June.
The Vice President’s legal team has called for the dismissal of the complaint, questioning the procedural integrity of the case and invoking technical defenses, including the alleged violation of the one-year bar rule for initiating impeachment complaints.
When asked whether the impeachment court could still consider Duterte’s appeal for dismissal at this stage, Bucoy replied with confidence that the proceedings should now move forward.
“Para sa amin dapat tumuloy na sa pre-trial. Mag-pre-trial na and then let’s proceed to trial without delay,” Bucoy said. “Let’s proceed to trial forthwith. Nagasgas na po yung salitang yan, forthwith.”
Bucoy emphasized that the prosecution panel remains focused on ensuring that the trial proceeds in accordance with constitutional norms and rules of procedure.
“We trust that the impeachment court will do the right thing and perform their constitutional duty to try and decide this case,” Bucoy said.
Pressed on whether Duterte’s call for dismissal contradicts her earlier statements expressing eagerness for a legal confrontation, Bucoy said the trial remains inevitable now that her side has formally responded.
“Matutuloy para sa prosecution dahil sumagot siya, matutuloy ang trial,” Bucoy said.
