VP Sara’s reply not the bloodbath we were expecting – prosecution spox

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s reply to the articles of impeachment did not appear to be the bloodbath that she was earlier looking for, as the country’s second-highest official wanted the complaint to be declared void, prosecution spokesperson Antonio Bucoy said.

Bucoy, in an online briefing on Tuesday said that Duterte’s Answer Ad Cautelam — wherein she stated that the fourth impeachment complaint should have been declared void from the beginning for supposedly violating the limitation of one impeachment proceeding against an official per year — was expected.

According to Bucoy, those who cannot answer accusations by raising factual arguments resort to citing alleged procedural issues instead — which is not the bloodbath that they were expecting from Duterte.

“That is already an expected move, if you cannot answer the factual allegations, you resort to procedure.  You look for ways to divert the discussions.  That is what is happening here,” Bucoy said in Filipino.

“They are diverting the discussions from factual allegations of the complaint.  Diverting it using procedural issues. This is not the bloodbath that we are expecting,” he added.

Regardless of what will happen next, Bucoy says he is certain that trial will proceed and that they will pursue the case to let the people know the facts about the impeachment.

“But nonetheless, we will continue with the presentation of evidence because it is important for the people to know the accusations.”

“This is cliche, but actions speak louder than words. You draw your own conclusions, because the facts have been stated, right, we have seen it. Is this going to be a bloodbath that she wants and that which she insists?  Well, we’ll bring the trial to its conclusion whether it will be a bloodbath or not, it is up to her.”

Last May, after the conclusion of the 2025 midterm elections, Duterte said she is eager for a “bloodbath” in her looming impeachment trial.

Duterte told reporters this after a thanksgiving Mass in Davao City, saying that her legal team’s preparations were at “full throttle” even though they did not want the trial by the Senate to proceed.

“But I told them that I truly want a trial because I want a bloodbath,” she said.

But in Duterte’s answer which was sent on Monday to the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, she maintained that the impeachment complaint should be declared void from the beginning because it supposedly violated the limitation set under the Constitution — that only one impeachment proceeding may be initiated against the same official.

“The Fourth Impeachment Complaint must be dismissed because: it is void ab initio for violating the One-Year Ban Rule under Section 3 (5) Article XI of the 1987 Constitution which explicitly prohibits the initiation of more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official within a period of one year,” Duterte’s answer read.

READ: Duterte tells impeachment court: ‘Raps vs me invalid from outset’

Article XI, Section 3(5) states that “no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.”

This was the same argument raised by Duterte before the Supreme Court (SC) last February 2025 through her lawyers — including her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: VP Sara Duterte files petition at SC to stop impeachment moves against her

But as early as February also, members of the House prosecution team for the impeachment have noted that the one-year ban has not set in yet before Duterte was impeached last February 5.

San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora said that the one-year ban on new complaints had not set in yet because the first three raps did not leave the Office of the House Secretary General.

Zamora stressed that SC had already decided in Francisco v. House of Representatives that the one-year prohibition on the filing of new impeachment complaints will start only after the charges are forwarded to the House committee on justice.

Impeachment presiding officer and Senate President Francis Escudero also mentioned this in his speech last June 10, before the chamber convened into an impeachment court.

Duterte was impeached after 215 lawmakers filed and signed a verified impeachment complaint against her.

The articles of impeachment were immediately sent to the Senate as the Article XI, Section 3(4) of the 1987 Constitution states that a trial should proceed forthwith if one-thirds of House members file the complaint.

As one-third of 306 House members is 102, the requirement was fulfilled. However, trial did not start as the articles of impeachment were not sent to the Senate plenary before session adjourned for the election season break.

Duterte’s impeachment was hinged on different issues, like these allegations of CF misuse within her offices, and threats to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez assassinated. /gsg