House prosecutors are drawing a firm line ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial: her alleged threats against the country’s top officials will not stand as protected speech.
According to a news report, prosecution panel members Rep. Chel Diokno of Akbayan party-list and Rep. Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal party-list addressed the Vice President’s main defense, signaling how they plan to challenge it once the Senate impeachment court convenes.
What the Prosecutors Said
Diokno made the panel’s position clear. While he avoided commenting on the specifics of Duterte’s defense, he stressed that constitutional protections have boundaries.
“Freedom of speech is not absolute. There are limits to freedom of speech,” he said, adding that the panel will lay out its arguments during the Senate trial.
De Lima took a more measured approach. She said the proper venue for resolving Duterte’s claims is the impeachment court itself, not public debate before the proceedings begin.
- The panel believes the threats fall outside protected expression.
- Detailed arguments will be reserved for the trial.
- Prosecutors want to avoid touching the merits of the defense too early.
“We, of course, espouse the contrary view, but we’d rather that we articulate on this in due time before the impeachment court,” De Lima explained.
The Threats at the Center of the Case
The controversy traces back to a livestream in November 2024. During the broadcast, Duterte said she had contracted someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez should any harm come to her.
Those remarks became a key element in the Articles of Impeachment later filed by the House of Representatives.
Duterte’s Defense
In her formal Answer to the charges, the Vice President argued she did nothing more than exercise her constitutional rights. She described her statements as protected speech aimed at opposing the policies and what she called the overreach of the current administration.
The prosecution panel firmly rejects that view, setting the stage for a clash over how far free expression can go.
What Happens Next
The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to open the trial on July 6. That date will mark the start of a high-stakes legal battle expected to capture national attention.
For Filipinos abroad watching developments back home, the trial promises to test the limits of free speech and accountability at the highest levels of government.