The House of Representatives on Wednesday formally authorized its prosecution panel to represent the chamber in all pre-trial proceedings and related matters before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court, ahead of the scheduled June 18 pre-trial conference in the case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The authority was granted through a motion introduced during a special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., moved by impeachment prosecutor and San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora.
“I move to authorize the House public prosecutors and the private prosecutors, subject to the direction, control, and supervision of the House public prosecutors, in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte, to act for and on behalf of the House of Representatives in all pre-trial proceedings and incidental matters before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court,” Zamora said.
With no objections raised, the motion was approved by the chamber, with Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez presiding over the session.
Under the authorization, the prosecution panel is empowered to streamline issues, enter into stipulations, identify witnesses, establish the number of witnesses, set trial schedules, and undertake other procedural steps to expedite the impeachment process. The panel is also allowed to engage private counsel, experts, and consultants.
The move comes as the House prosecution team intensifies its preparations for the upcoming Senate impeachment court proceedings. Last Monday, the panel submitted a 57-page pre-trial brief along with its list of witnesses and documentary evidence.
House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Garafil filed the pre-trial brief on behalf of the 11-member prosecution panel led by House Committee on Justice Chairperson Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro. The team also formally entered the appearance of 10 private lawyers assisting the case on a pro bono basis.
Earlier, Luistro said the prosecution intends to present more than 30 witnesses, with additional names included to strengthen the evidentiary foundation of the case.
The Senate impeachment court is set to hold its pre-trial conference on June 18, where both prosecution and defense panels are expected to define issues, evidence, and procedures that will guide the trial proper.
The House prosecution team has said it is prepared to substantiate all four Articles of Impeachment, which include allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against top government officials.
The panel is composed of Representatives Terry Ridon, Ramon Rodrigo “Rodge” Gutierrez, Ysabel Maria Zamora, Lorenz Defensor, Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, Leila de Lima, Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, Jonathan Keith Flores, Lordan Suan, and Joel Chua, with assistance from private lawyers from PECABAR Law, Kapunan and Castillo Law Offices, and SALiGAL Law.