The House prosecution panel will recognize Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian’s leadership in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Lead Prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said.
Luistro said the panel will appear before Gatchalian’s Senate leadership if separate notices are issued by competing Senate factions amid the ongoing leadership dispute.
“With all due respect sa kanya, we need to follow the direction of the institution which we represent. The House of Representatives already recognized the leadership of acting SP Win Gatchalian,” Luistro said in a radio interview.
The issue surfaced as the prosecution panel faces the practical question of where to file pleadings and where to appear should two rival Senate blocs claim authority over the impeachment proceedings.
“In case dalawa notices for trial, we will be appearing before the leadership of acting SP Win Gatchalian,” Luistro said.
She explained that the House prosecution team cannot take a position separate from the House of Representatives, which she said had already recognized the new Senate leadership through the adoption of the concurrent resolution adjourning Congress sine die.
“With all due respect to the former leadership, but the House of Representatives already recognized the new leadership. When we approved our concurrent resolution to adjourn sine die, the concurrent resolution was likewise approved by the new leadership,” Luistro said.
For the prosecution panel, Luistro said the House’s recognition of Gatchalian’s leadership settles the operational question of where impeachment pleadings should be submitted and whose authority the prosecutors should follow as the Senate prepares for the pretrial phase.
“So to us, it operates as a recognition by the House of Representatives of the leadership of acting Senate President Win Gatchalian,” she said.
Luistro stressed that the 11 prosecutors are acting as representatives of the House, not in their personal capacities.
“So kami naman, we are part of the institution. In fact, as 11 prosecutors, we represent the House of Representatives,” she said.
“Definitely, we will be following kung anong position ng House. And that is they are recognizing the legitimacy of the leadership of acting Senate President Win Gatchalian,” she added.
Asked where the prosecution panel would submit its pretrial brief, Luistro said it would be filed under Gatchalian’s leadership.
“Therefore, to your question, kanino kami magsa-submit ng pretrial brief? We will be submitting that under the new leadership kay acting President Win Gatchalian,” Luistro said.