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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Should inexperienced senator-judges undergo seminar first? Bucoy says yes

Should inexperienced senator-judges undergo seminar first? Bucoy says yes

Published Jun 17, 2025 05:28 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator-judges who have no prior experience in impeachment proceedings should take it upon themselves to undergo a seminar on the matter, especially with Vice President Sara Duterte's trial on the horizon.
House prosecution panel spokesman Antonio Bucoy (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
House prosecution panel spokesman Antonio Bucoy (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Senator-judges who have no prior experience in impeachment proceedings should take it upon themselves to undergo a seminar on the matter, especially with Vice President Sara Duterte's trial on the horizon.
House prosecution panel spokesman, lawyer Antonio Bucoy agreed with this suggestion after it was floated by a reporter during a press conference Tuesday, June 17.
Nasa kanila yan eh, the initiative. So tama kayo (The initiative should be with them. So you're riight), Bucoy, a lawyer, told the reporter who made the pitch for first-time senator-judges to avail of a seminar.
Bucoy says the move is also advisable for senators who are non-lawyers.
Dapat po ay pag-aralan din nila itong proseso para magabayan sila sa kanilang gagawing hakbang (They should also study this process to guide them in their next steps). They should take the initiative to study the rules of impeachment. Lalo na po yung mga hindi abogado (Especially those who are not lawyers), said the seasoned litigator.
Pag-aralan nila. Kung hindi, they'll be walking in the dark so to speak. Hindi nila alam kung saan sila pupunta (They must study it. Otherwise, they'll be walking in the dark, so to speak. They won't know where they are headed), Bucoy said.
In the same presser, the prosecution panel mouthpiece criticized the senator-judges, specifically Ronald Bato dela Rosa, for moving to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte.
Bucoy said such motions should be made by the defense and not a senator-judge tasked by the Constitution to render impartial judgement on the case.
He also hit the Senate’s decision to remand or return the articles of impeachment to its origin, the House of Representatives. The Constitution doesn't contain the word remand when it comes to impeachment, the lawyer-spokesman said.
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