The House lead prosecutor for the impeachment trial on Monday rejected claims that the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte was tied to an alleged no-election scenario, saying there was no such discussion in the House of Representatives.
chairperson of the House Committee on Justice, described the claim as a “diversionary tactic” and said lawmakers were focused on fulfilling their constitutional role in the impeachment process.
“’Yung mga pronouncement ni Senator Imee, I don’t know where she got that, but in as far as I am concerned, because I can speak only for myself, wala pong mga ganyang discussion dito sa House of Representatives,” Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro Luistro said in a press briefing.
The House earlier approved the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte and transmitted them to the Senate, which has already convened as an impeachment court.
Luistro said the House’s role is to present evidence, while the Senate is responsible for conducting the trial and deciding the case.
“Ang constitutional duty ng House is to present the evidence. Deciding on this impeachment trial is a judgment that rests upon the senator-judges,” she said.
“Even the conduct of the trial is a duty that belongs to the Senate,” she added.
Luistro said the 11-member House prosecution panel is prepared to appear before the impeachment court once proceedings begin.
“That’s why I am reiterating, ready ang 11 prosecutors to appear. Kung kailan man ito mag-umpisa, we hope soon,” she said.
She added that the House had already completed its part in the impeachment process and would continue to act within the bounds of its constitutional mandate.
“As a matter of fact, we have concluded the process here in the House of Representatives,” Luistro said.
“In as far as the House is concerned, we’ve been responding strictly to our constitutional mandate. And we intend to continue responding to the same even during the trial,” she added.
Luistro also expressed hope that the reported schedule for the proceedings would push through, including a possible June 15 pre-trial conference and a July 6 opening of the trial.
“We look forward na sana itong mga dates na lumalabas sa media, the June 15 pre-trial conference, the July 6 first schedule of trial, sana magtuloy-tuloy na because this is what the constitutional mandate provides,” she said.
The prosecution panel has maintained that the impeachment case should proceed, saying the House has already fulfilled its duty by approving and transmitting the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.