Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, along with House prosecutors, stressed that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is not only about accountability for alleged violations but also about opposing what they call a culture of violence and impunity.
De Lima on Grave Threats
De Lima said the alleged grave threats made by VP Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez are part of a broader pattern of violent rhetoric that should not be tolerated. “These statements normalize violence and must be rejected,” De Lima said.
Diokno Links to War on Drugs
Rep. Diokno noted that violence became normalized in public consciousness during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. He urged an examination of whether the normalization of violent language by officials is linked to the rise of violence in other sectors, including schools. “We need to study the connection between official rhetoric and societal violence,” Diokno said.
Impeachment Trial Continues
The Senate impeachment court is currently hearing Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, where the prosecution presents evidence and witnesses related to the allegations of grave threats and betrayal of public trust against the Vice President. The trial is ongoing.
