Dennis Gasgonia

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - House prosecutors and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte goes beyond holding her accountable for alleged offenses. The two lawmakers pointed out that the trial is also about rejecting a culture of violence and impunity that has become normalized under the Duterte administration.During the Saturday News Forum, the House prosecutors stressed that the impeachment proceedings present an opportunity to send the message that threats and violent rhetoric have no place in society — especially in public service.De Lima said the vice president’s alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez form part of a broader pattern of violent language.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/10/prosecutors-undaunted-if-vp-sara-shows-up-in-impeach-trial-spokesman-0853">Prosecutors undaunted if VP Sara shows up in impeach trial - spokesman </a> </div>“‘Yan ang isa sa mahalagang punto talaga ‘yan — ‘yung asal ng isang napakataas na opisyal ng gobyerno, vice president no less ang nagpapakita ng ganyang asal. Mga threatening attitude, demeaning attitude, demeaning conduct na pwede ka bang basta ka na lang magbanta?” she asked. De Lima said the prosecution has also presented authenticated videos showing other statements made by the vice president, including remarks about wanting to behead the president and exhume the remains of the president’s father and throwing them into the West Philippine Sea.“There are related videos na pinakita rin po last week at inauthenticate ni senior agent John Mark Calilung, ‘yung sabi niya na inimagine niya na pupugutan niya ng ulo, cutting off the head of the president at ‘yung paghuhukay sa bangkay ng ama ng pangulo at itatapon sa West Philippine Sea,” she said.“So ‘yung culture of violence, alam niyo naman sa pamilya nila, ‘yun ang kanilang lenggwahe is about violence.” Such statements, she said, when made by the country’s second-highest official, risk influencing the public by making violent behavior appear acceptable.“What are those? Those evince a character of violence and which could affect society na gagayahin ng marami na okay lang pala ang magbanta, na okay lang pala ang pumatay. Kasi ‘yan ang pinakita ng ating vice president,” she said. Diokno echoed her sentiment, saying the culture of violence became deeply entrenched during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. He said thousands of killings were normalized in the public consciousness under his war on drugs campaign.“Sa tingin ko, malaking malaki ‘yung naging epekto, lalong lalo na ng war on drugs sa ating kultura dahil naging normal ‘yung nakita nating dugo sa kalsada. Naging normal na daan-daan na umaabot sa libo-libo ang pinapatay,” he said. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/7/impeachment-court-tackles-duterte-s-alleged-threat-vs-marcos-1513">Impeachment court tackles Duterte&#x27;s alleged threat vs Marcos </a> </div>Diokno added that scholars should also study whether the normalization of violence in the language of public officials has contributed to rising violence in other parts of society, including schools, where shootings and threats of school violence have recently become an increasing concern.“At tingin ko kailangan din pag-aralan ng ating mga sociologist at ng mga iba’t ibang disiplina kung ito ba ay ngayon nagkaroon na ng koneksyon doon sa nangyayaring mga violence sa ating mga paaralan. Kasi nga kung ganun nga ‘yan, then lalong lalo na nangangailangan na tugunan natin agad itong problema bago pa siya lumala pa,” he said.

House prosecutors and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte goes beyond holding her accountable for alleged offenses.

House prosecutors and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte goes beyond holding her accountable for alleged offenses.

Diokno, De Lima say Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial challenges culture of violence

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Diokno, De Lima say Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial challenges culture of violence

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 11, 2026 05:57 PM PHT

Read More:

Leila De Lima

Impeachment case

Chel Diokno

Sara Duterte

Culture of violence

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