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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Abante agrees with Bucoy: Senate impeachment court spox seems to be speaking for the defense

Abante agrees with Bucoy: Senate impeachment court spox seems to be speaking for the defense

Published Jun 21, 2025 05:45 am

At A Glance

  • House of Representatives Spokesperson Princess Abante agrees with fellow lawyer Antonio Bucoy's take that Senate impeachment court mouthpiece Regie Tongol appears to be speaking for the defense team of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte.
House of Representatives Spokesperson Princess Abante (center) (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
House of Representatives Spokesperson Princess Abante (center) (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
House of Representatives Spokesperson Princess Abante agrees with fellow lawyer Antonio Bucoy's take that Senate impeachment court mouthpiece Regie Tongol appears to be speaking for the defense team of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte.
Abante sounded off on the controversy in a press conference Friday, June 20, after Bucoy--the House impeachment panel spokesperson--had called out Tongol for supposedly suggesting a legal strategy for the defense.
Siguro ang ating spokesperson ng impeachment court ay ine-echo lang yung--kasi, as a spokesperson, you speak for the body that you are representing. Baka yun yung naririnig niya mula dun sa nirerepresent njya, Abante said.
(Maybe the spokesperson of the impeachment court is simply echoing what—well, as a spokesperson, you speak on behalf of the body you represent. Perhaps that’s what he's hearing from those they represent.)
Kaya nga sinasabi natin na we want to see an impartial, transparent impeachment court na handang tanggapin ang ebidensya, handang pakinggan ang ebidensya, at magdesisyon ayon sa ebidensya na kaya nating--na ilalahad at ipe-present ng prosecution panel kapag tinuloy na nila ang impeachment trial, she added.
(That’s why we’re saying that we want to see an impartial and transparent impeachment court, one that is ready to accept evidence, ready to listen to the evidence, and make a decision based on the evidence that we’re able to—will be laid out and presented by the prosecution panel if and when they proceed with the impeachment trial.)
In an earlier interview, Bucoy criticized Tongol, also a lawyer, for saying, You know, if I were the Vice President, I will file a motion to dismiss.
The prosecution team spokesperson said Tongol's statement was grossly inappropriate.
Asked if she thought Tongol had been speaking on behalf of the defense team, Abante gave an affirmative response.
Yun yung lumalabas sa pag kwestiyon niya eh. In fact yung...hindi pagtanggap ng House doon sa dokumento na walang kahit anong nakalagay na label, wala naman kami narinig doon sa defense team. Ang sumita ay yung spokesperson.
(That’s what’s coming across in his line of questioning. In fact, when the House refused to accept a document that didn’t have any label or markings, we didn’t hear anything from the defense team. The one who objected was the spokesperson.)
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.
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