Prosecution spox agrees with ex-CJ Puno: Returning articles of impeachment to House may constitute grave abuse of discretion

MANILA — The spokesperson for the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte agrees with former Chief Justice Reynato Puno that the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court led by Senate President Francis Escudero, may have committed grave abuse of discretion when it ordered the return of the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives.

Last week, the impeachment court, voting 18-5, issued the order, which instructed the lower chamber to certify first that all constitutional requirements were complied with in the House impeachment proceedings against Duterte, and the House of the 20th Congress to adopt a resolution affirming they will continue with the prosecution.

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“Ako ay sumasang-ayon sa sinabi ni Chief Justice Renato Puno, sapagkat ang mga naging actuation and ruling ni Senate President Chiz Escudero as the presiding officer of the impeachment court ay wala ho sa Saligang Batas ‘yan... Wala hong salitang remand sa impeachment,” Atty. Antonio Audie Bucoy said in a press conference on Tuesday.

He asserted that the powers of the impeachment court have limits, contrary to Escudero’s position.

“Ang limitasyon ay nasasaad sa ating saligang batas at sa kanilang sariling impeachment rules. In fact, kung ‘yung impeachment rules ay hindi alinsunod sa saligang batas, hindi uubra ‘yun. ‘Yun sa statement na kaya nilang gawin, kaya nilang mag-order ng kahit na ano, mali po ‘yun. Dapat alinsunod sa parameters na sinet ng saligang batas,” Bucoy explained.

He said that it is “not fair” to dismiss the position of the Philippine Constitution Association just because it’s president is House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“You judge the position based on the merit of what was said. Hindi ‘yung personalidad. Sa palagay niyo ba si Speaker ay kayang impluwensyahan ang pag-iisip ni dating Chief Justice Puno? I don’t think so,” Bucoy said.

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BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

Amid allegations of bias against some senator-judges seen fraternizing and openly supporting the Vice President, Bucoy said the prosecution team will give them the benefit of the doubt.

But he and House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong also called for impartiality among senator-judges.

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“Kami po ay umaasa na bubuksan ng mga hukom ang kanilang mga mata at titimbangin nila ang ebidensya… Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt,” Bucoy told the media. “Ang akin pong pakiusap ay maging impartial. Deliver impartial justice na naaayon sa ebidensya. No personal preferences. No party affiliation influences”.

“Ang akin lang panawagan sana ay maging impartial talaga tayo at bigyan natin ang pagkakataon ang ebidensya na sumulong at ma-appreciate natin itong mga ebidensya bago tayo mag-arrive into judgment,” Adiong also said. 

Some individuals called for senator-judges, who supposedly showed bias for Duterte, to inhibit from her trial. While the prosecution team is discussing the matter, Bucoy said if it will cause further delays to the trial, they are willing to set it aside.

“Kami po ba ay hihingi ng recusal ng mga perceived bias na mga hukom? Pinag-uusapan po ‘yan. Subalit kung ito ay magiging dahilan para maantala, siguro isantabi na lang ‘yan. Anyway, ilalahad ang ebidensya, ipapakita sa mga hukom, makikita ng publiko, nasa kanila yan. Kung kahit malakas ang ebidensya, mag-aacquit pa rin sila, sino ang huhusga? Ang bayan,” he explained.

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DEFENSE LAWYERS

The House of Representatives did not receive the tender copy of the Appearance-Ad Cautelam submitted by Duterte’s lawyers to the impeachment court on Monday, but Bucoy said it will not cause any delay.

“Hindi ko alam pa kung ano ang dahilan. Subalit ang bottomline dito, walang damage… no harm, no foul. The service was tendered, so as if tinanggap. It will not delay. Kasi appearance lang naman ‘yan eh. Pinapaalam lang sa prosecution pati sa impeachment court kung sino ang mga abogado niya. Wala pong delay ‘yan,” he assured the public.

Asked about Duterte’s lawyers, Bucoy said: “Kilala ko ang name partners dyan, dahil we are contemporaries sa UP College of Law. Iginagalang ko ang kanilang kakayanan. I think the Vice President is in good hands.”

The impeachment court’s orders to the House may be considered “surplusage” or unnecessary, according to the prosecution team.

It will file a pleading “in the next few days” to clarify the order.

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“Ang prosecution panel ay magsusumite o maglalahad ng appropriate pleading. I assure the public that the House prosecution panel will not provide reason for any delay. Hindi ang House prosecution panel ang magbibigay ng dahilan upang maantala ang trial ng impeachment,” Bucoy noted.

For now, the prosecution panel is in the process of vetting its witnesses. The prosecution team also asserted that a swift impeachment trial will address investment concerns on the country’s stability.

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“A swift trial will address the issue of stability. The issue of investor confidence in the Philippines. Kasi habang tumatagal ito, habang naaantala, habang lumalawig, naguguluhan ang tao. Ano ang ginagawa ng tao? Nagagalit, nagrarally, nagpoprotesta. So sa foreign investors, hindi po maganda yan. Ang gusto ng foreign investors, stability. (11:32) Mas mabuti na maging swift, maging mabilis ang paglilitis, para investor confidence is assured,” Bucoy said.

“Sino ba ang takot na ilabas ang katotohanan? Edi ‘yung may itinatago, may itinatagong katiwalian, may itinatagong kamalian,” he added.