Diokno, De Lima say impeach trial also challenges culture of violence

MANILA, Philippines – House prosecutors and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said Saturday that Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial goes beyond holding her accountable for alleged offenses. It is also about rejecting a culture of violence and impunity that has become normalized under the Dutertes’ leadership.

Speaking at the Saturday News Forum, the House prosecutors stressed that the impeachment proceedings present an opportunity to reaffirm the standards expected of the country’s highest public officials and send the message that threats and violent rhetoric have no place in society — especially in public service.

READ: ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 1 highlights

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De Lima argued the vice president’s alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez cannot be viewed in isolation, saying they form part of a broader pattern of violent language.

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“‘Yan ang isa sa mahalagang punto talaga ‘yan — ‘yung asal ng isang napakataas na opisyal ng gobyerno, vice president no less ang nagpapakita ng ganyang asal. Mga threatening attitude, demeaning attitude, demeaning conduct na pwede ka bang basta ka na lang magbanta?” she asked.

According to De Lima, the prosecution has also presented authenticated videos showing other statements made by the vice president, including remarks about wanting to behead the president and exhume the remains of the president’s father and throwing them into the West Philippine Sea.

“There are related videos na pinakita rin po last week at inauthenticate ni senior agent John Mark Calilung, ‘yung sabi niya na inimagine niya na pupugutan niya ng ulo, cutting off the head of the president at ‘yung paghuhukay sa bangkay ng ama ng pangulo at itatapon sa West Philippine Sea,” she said.

“So ‘yung culture of violence, alam niyo naman sa pamilya nila, ‘yun ang kanilang lenggwahe is about violence,” she added.

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De Lima warned that such statements, when made by the country’s second-highest official, risk influencing the public by making violent behavior appear acceptable.

“What are those? Those evince a character of violence and which could affect society na gagayahin ng marami na okay lang pala ang magbanta, na okay lang pala ang pumatay. Kasi ‘yan ang pinakita ng ating vice president,” she said.

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Diokno shared a similar sentiment, saying the culture of violence became deeply entrenched during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, where thousands of killings were normalized in the public consciousness under his war on drugs campaign.

“Sa tingin ko, malaking malaki ‘yung naging epekto, lalong lalo na ng war on drugs sa ating kultura dahil naging normal ‘yung nakita nating dugo sa kalsada. Naging normal na daan-daan na umaabot sa libo-libo ang pinapatay,” he said.

Diokno added that scholars should also study whether the normalization of violence in the language of public officials has contributed to rising violence in other parts of society, including schools, where shootings and threats of school violence have recently become an increasing concern.

“At tingin ko kailangan din pag-aralan ng ating mga sociologist at ng mga iba’t ibang disiplina kung ito ba ay ngayon nagkaroon na ng koneksyon doon sa nangyayaring mga violence sa ating mga paaralan. Kasi nga kung ganun nga ‘yan, then lalong lalo na nangangailangan na tugunan natin agad itong problema bago pa siya lumala pa,” he said.

The Senate impeachment court has so far completed three trial days devoted to Article IV of the articles of impeachment, with the prosecution presenting evidence and witnesses to support its allegation that Duterte’s public statements constitute impeachable offenses, including betrayal of public trust.

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The prosecution’s presentation of three additional witnesses is expected to continue next week to reinforce Calilung’s testimony of authenticating the videos showing Duterte’s violent behavior and alleged threats.