MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives introduced Antonio “Audie” Bucoy as the spokesman of the prosecution panel in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Bucoy faced the media for his first press conference on Tuesday, June 17.
“This trial does not only put the Vice President on trial. Also being put on trial is the institution of the Senate as the impeachment court. The entire nation is likewise on trial — called to open its eyes and take part in the process, so that doubts and questions may be addressed,” Bucoy said in Filipino.
Bucoy is the managing partner of Bucoy Poblador and Associates, described by the World Trademark Review as “home to a deep bench of diversely qualified IP (intellectual property) talent.”
“A venerable statesman in the industry, managing partner Antonio Bucoy is the name to call for IP disputes,” it said.
In his law firm’s website, Bucoy lists corporate and tax cases, as well as dispute resolution, as his practice areas, on top of intellectual property.
He graduated from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1980, then finished law at the same university in 1984.
He’s not foreign to human rights cases, having been a member of the Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism (MABINI), and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).
He was a member of the counsel of the fact-finding commission that then-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo created in 2003 to investigate the failed Oakwood Mutiny.
In 2013, he donated P1 million to the senatorial campaign of Alan Peter Cayetano.
He has appeared in some media interviews since May to comment on the impeachment of Duterte, saying once that her endorsement of senatorial candidates is an indication that she is not confident she would secure an acquittal.
The role of a spokesperson for the prosecution isn’t new. In 2012, then-Marikina congressman Miro Quimbo was tapped to speak on behalf of the panel. – Rappler.com