Bucoy Duterte Impeachment Bloodbath: Criticism Over Legal Tactics

MANILA, Philippines – June 2025

The Bucoy Duterte impeachment bloodbath remark has sparked a lot of attention as Antonio Bucoy, the House prosecution spokesperson, criticized Vice President Duterte for her approach to the ongoing impeachment case.

Duterte had previously described the trial as a “bloodbath,” but according to Bucoy, the proceedings have turned out to be more of a “bubble bath” due to her failure to address the key issues in the case.

Duterte’s Evading Tactics in the Impeachment Case

Bucoy pointed out how Duterte has avoided addressing the allegations directly. He emphasized that the Vice President’s defense merely relied on a general denial, which doesn’t address the specifics of the charges.

He argued that Duterte’s response doesn’t answer the allegations and thus makes it difficult for the prosecution to proceed with the case efficiently.

Duterte’s Plea for Dismissal

In her impeachment defense, Duterte filed a request for the dismissal of the impeachment complaint, claiming it was “void ab initio” (invalid from the start).

This legal tactic, according to Bucoy, was merely an attempt to delay or dismiss the case without providing proper explanations for the accusations against her.

Prosecution’s View on Duterte’s General Denial

The prosecution has also raised concerns about Duterte’s general denial of the accusations. Bucoy criticized this strategy, stating that a general denial is essentially an admission of guilt because it fails to specifically counter the facts presented in the complaint.

He pointed out that Duterte did not deny key points such as the alleged suppression of documents from the Commission on Audit (COA) and the use of confidential funds for short periods.

Call for Immediate Action from the Impeachment Court

The House prosecution is now calling for the impeachment court to move forward with the case and deny Duterte’s request to dismiss the complaint. They have urged the court to render a judgment of conviction and impose perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Conclusion: Legal Implications of Duterte’s Response

The ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte is attracting significant scrutiny. Bucoy’s remarks about the “bloodbath” turning into a “bubble bath” reflect the frustrations of the prosecution over the lack of substantive answers from Duterte’s defense.

As the case continues, the impeachment court will have to decide how to handle the legal tactics employed by the Vice President and whether further action should be taken.

References:

• Bucoy says Duterte’s `bloodbath’ remark may well just be `bubble bath’