Senate impeachment spox accused of ‘lawyering’ for VP Sara

The House prosecution panel has accused the Senate impeachment court of “lawyering” for Vice President Sara Duterte, citing a recent remark by its spokesperson that allegedly suggested a legal strategy for Duterte’s defense team.

House prosecution spokesperson Antonio Bucoy called out his Senate counterpart, Atty. Reginald Tongol, for insinuating that if he were the Vice President, he would file a motion to dismiss the impeachment case.

Bucoy called the comment “grossly inappropriate” and warned that such “lawyering” could indicate attempts to derail the already delayed proceedings.

“I heard a soundbite from Senate spokesperson Atty. Tongol. He said, ‘You know, if I were the Vice President, I will file a motion to dismiss.’ Why is he hinting? Why is he telegraphing?” Bucoy said in an interview Thursday. “When he made that statement, not only is it grossly inappropriate — it’s wrong. Outright wrong. You are broadcasting, ‘I’ll file a motion to dismiss.’”

The seasoned litigator and human rights lawyer stressed that Tongol’s comments carry weight, especially since he speaks on behalf of the entire Senate impeachment court, which is tasked with trying and deciding on Duterte’s case.

“[He] is following the footsteps of some of the biased senators. The likes of Senator (Ronald) Dela Rosa, who, as a judge, moved to dismiss [the impeachment case]. The judge doesn’t move to dismiss. It’s the parties that do that,” Bucoy asserted.

Senators allied with the Vice President, including Dela Rosa, drew criticism for attempting to dismiss the impeachment complaint outright, just before the Senate convened as an impeachment court. That motion, however, was amended by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, leading to the Senate remanding the articles of impeachment to the House shortly after constituting itself as a court.

The Senate’s months-long delay in acting on the verified impeachment complaint prompted accusations that it was deliberately stalling to kill the trial.

In remanding the articles, the Senate impeachment court required the House to submit a certification that the complaint did not violate Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which prohibits filing more than one impeachment case against the same official within a year.

The House was also directed to issue a manifestation of its willingness to pursue Duterte’s impeachment case in the upcoming 20th Congress, which opens on 28 July.

However, the House has deferred acceptance of the remanded complaint, arguing it already “fully and strictly” complied with the rules and that the requested certification is unnecessary, as the complaint is already verified.

Senate President Chiz Escudero, the court’s presiding officer, has insisted that the House must comply with the court’s orders, emphasizing that in impeachment matters, the Senate’s authority prevails.

Bucoy, however, suggests that every move of the Senate points only in one direction: “opening the path to a dismissal without trial.” Nevertheless, he urged the public to watch out for senators who may betray their constitutional duty for the sake of the 2028 polls.

The Senate has been accused of stalling the proceedings due to fears of political backlash ahead of the national polls.

Vice President Duterte was impeached by the House on 5 February 2025 on charges of graft and corruption, bribery, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust. The complaint was endorsed by 215 lawmakers.

A conviction would require a two-thirds vote — or at least 16 of the 24 senators — permanently barring Duterte from public office and potentially derailing her 2028 presidential bid.