VETERAN human rights lawyer Antonio Audie Z. Bucoy, the newly appointed spokesperson of the House prosecution panel, on Tuesday issued a powerful call to the Filipino people and the Senate to view the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte not merely as a legal proceeding, but as a national test of moral accountability.
In his first press conference as the official voice of the House prosecutors, Bucoy underscored the gravity and historic nature of the charges now pending before the Senate.
“Tayo ay nahaharap sa isang usaping pananagutan. Pero ito po ay hindi pangkaraniwan na usaping pananagutan. Ito po ay moral na usaping pananagutan,” Bucoy declared.
“Ito po ay kaakibat sa natatanging proseso na hinaharap ng sambayanan. Ito po ay ang impeachment ng ating Pangalawang Pangulo,” he added.
According to Bucoy, this is the first time in Philippine history that a sitting vice president has been charged with contracting an assassin to carry out threats against the President, the First Lady and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, sinakdal ang pangalawang pinakamataas na pinuno ng bansa sa pagbabanta sa buhay ng Pangulo, ng Unang Ginang, at ng Speaker of the House. Hindi lang po ito pagbabanta. Inamin niya na kumontrata siya ng taong magsasakatuparan ng bantang ito. In other words, may kinontrata na siya na asasino o mamamatay-tao,” he pointed out.
Bucoy also highlighted the unprecedented nature of the other charges: plunder, malversation of public funds, betrayal of the Constitution and other heinous crimes.
“Natatangi rin dahil sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, nasakdal din siya sa pangalawang artikulo which is pandarambong ng kaban ng bayan or plunder. Natatangi because nasasakdal siya sa pangatlong artikulo, malbersasyon ng pananalapi ng bayan. Natatangi dahil siya nasasakdal sa pagkataksil sa Saligang Batas. And finally natatangi dahil sinakdal siya sa mga karmaldumal na krimen,” he said.
But beyond the individual standing trial, Bucoy warned that the credibility of the Senate—as the nation’s impeachment court—and the moral conscience of the Filipino people are also on trial.
“Ito pong paglilitis na ito, hindi lang ang Pangalawang Pangulo ang nasasakdal. Nasasakdal din po rito ang institusyon ng Senado bilang isang impeachment court. Nasasakdal din ang buong sambayanan,” he said.
He called on the public to open their eyes and actively take part in the process.
“Dapat ay buksan ang mga mata, makilahok sa proseso upang sa gayon matugunan ang mga pag-aagam-agam at mga katanungan,” Bucoy said.
The impeachment trial is expected to begin in the coming weeks. House prosecutors have vowed to present compelling evidence and witnesses to prove the charges beyond doubt.
