Atty. Antonio Bucoy, spokesperson for the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel, threw down the gauntlet on Saturday, urging Vice President Sara Duterte to face her impeachment trial head-on and “prove her innocence before the Filipino people.”
Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Bucoy dared the Vice President to go beyond political posturing and instead present hard evidence in her defense if she truly believes she has the support in the Senate to secure acquittal.
"If you’re saying you have the numbers, then what are you afraid of? If you’ll be acquitted anyway, then let’s hold the trial. Let the people hear the evidence, not just the rhetoric," Bucoy said in a mix of English and Filipino.The remarks came a day after the House prosecution team filed its official reply to Duterte’s answer ad cautelam, which urged the impeachment court to dismiss the complaint on procedural grounds. Duterte’s legal camp maintains the case is “void from the beginning,” while asserting confidence that she would be cleared if a trial pushes through.
Bucoy emphasized that the goal is not just conviction but transparency.
"Even if she’s acquitted in the end, what matters is that we get to present the evidence of the crimes she committed. The people deserve to know what this case is about. They’ll be the ultimate judges," he said.Senate President Francis Escudero earlier clarified that the impeachment court could vote to dismiss the case with at least 13 votes from the chamber. Still, Bucoy stressed that legal proceedings should not be short-circuited by political alliances.
Debate over senator-judges’ neutrality
Bucoy was also asked whether the House panel is considering filing motions to inhibit certain senator-judges who have publicly shown support for the Vice President. He acknowledged the possibility but admitted the strategy could be counterproductive.
"Yes, it’s possible. But we’re hesitant. There’s a growing belief that it might backfire and weaken our position even more. It could distract from the main issue — the charges," he said.The Senate convened as an impeachment court on June 10, referring the case back to the House to ensure compliance with procedural rules, including the one-year bar on repeat complaints. Still, the court served a writ of summons to the Vice President, who responded promptly with a motion to dismiss.
Despite this, the House reiterated its call for a full trial, stating that Duterte’s attempt to dismiss the complaint lacks legal foundation.
In a bold move not originally discussed in official proceedings, Bucoy is now calling for the impeachment trial to be fully televised — including testimonies, cross-examinations, and evidence presentation.
"We talk about transparency all the time. This is a historic trial involving a sitting Vice President. Let’s open the courtroom to the public. Let them see who’s telling the truth," Bucoy said, adding that a televised trial would restore public trust in both the legislature and the judiciary.Political analysts noted that this push for live coverage could flip the narrative. While Duterte’s camp maintains she is a victim of political harassment, a televised trial could either expose the weakness of the complaint — or amplify the strength of the charges.
The Duterte camp has yet to issue a statement regarding the proposal.
As the legal battle intensifies, public sentiment is expected to play a growing role. With both camps digging in and political factions sharpening their lines, the trial may become more than a test of constitutional process — it could evolve into a national reckoning on political accountability.
Whether the impeachment trial proceeds or is dismissed, Bucoy’s challenge signals one thing clearly: the House is ready for a fight, and they want the entire nation watching.
