Is Senate impeachment court spokesman Regie Tongol lawyering for Vice President Sara Duterte?

House prosecution panel spokesman Antonio Bucoy left this question in the minds of the public as he called out Tongol for suggesting a legal strategy for the impeached lady official.

“If you will recall, I heard a soundbite from the statement of the Senate spokesperson, Atty. Tongol. Sinabi niya, ‘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 on ANC Headstart Thursday, June 20.

Bucoy said that the statement of his fellow lawyer Tongol was highly inappropriate.

“He is the spokesperson of the Senate, so we can assume he is speaking the minds of the Senate — spokesperson siya eh (he's the spokesperson). Like me, I’m the spokesperson for the prosecution. What I say might bind them, or it can reflect the mindset of the prosecutors,” he pointed out.

“In his case, 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,' he said.

Host Karen Davila then followed up, “Why are they lawyering for the Vice President?”

“That’s it. He (Tongol) is following the footsteps of some of the biased senators. The likes of Senator [Ronald ‘Bato’] Dela Rosa, who as a judge moved to dismiss. The judge doesn’t move to dismiss. It’s the parties that do that, Bucoy said.

It's the job of the senator-judges to either convict or acquit Vice President Duterte based on the evidence to be presented by the House panel.

The Senate impeachment court has yet to start the actual trial, despite the House's submission of the articles of impeachment way back on Feb. 5.

Bucoy acknowledged that some senators may prefer to avoid the political risks of casting a vote on conviction or acquittal ahead of the 2028 elections.

“Some senators may not even want the burden of acquitting or convicting. Either way, it will make them unpopular,” Davila said. “So you may have some senators who, technically, are like Pontius Pilate—‘I wash my hands of this man’s death.’”

“Yes, tama (correct). You’re correct,” Bucoy replied.

Despite these concerns, Bucoy said the prosecution panel remains ready to pursue the trial and urged the public to remain vigilant. “Watch out because this is now going to test if they (senators) will follow their oath to the Constitution, or if they will continue laying down more excuses to avoid a proper trial.