A House impeachment prosecutor on Thursday welcomed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s announcement that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court on May 18 for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The solon said the House prosecution panel is prepared to appear before the Senate when it formally sits as an impeachment court at 3 pm Monday.
“Nagpapasalamat po ang House Prosecution Panel sa pagbanggit po ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano na iko-convene na po ang Senate Impeachment Court laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte sa darating na May 18, 2026, Lunes at 3 pm,” Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said.
“Maaasahan din po na ’yong kabuuan ng House Prosecution Panel ay magpupunta rin po dito po sa araw na ito para saksihan ’yong pag-convene ng Senate Impeachment Court,” he added.
Under the Constitution, the Senate is required to promptly convene as an impeachment court once the House of Representatives transmits the Articles of Impeachment.
The House sent the articles to the Senate on Wednesday night, two days after 257 lawmakers voted to impeach Duterte. Twenty-five lawmakers voted against the move, while nine abstained.
Ridon is one of 11 House members elected to serve as prosecutors in the trial. The panel will present the Articles of Impeachment, evidence, and arguments before the Senate.
Aside from Ridon, the prosecution team includes Reps. Joel Chua of Manila, Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal party-list, Gerville Luistro of Batangas, Chel Diokno of Akbayan, Ysabel Maria Zamora of San Juan, Lordan Suan of Cagayan de Oro, Jonathan Keith Flores of Bukidnon, Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo, Rodge Gutierrez of 1-Rider party-list, and Kaka Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands.
Several members of the panel have experience in major legal and impeachment proceedings. Diokno served as a private prosecutor in the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada, while Bag-ao was part of the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Luistro, who chairs the House Committee on Justice, led the impeachment proceedings in the chamber. De Lima is a former justice secretary and former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights.
Chua headed the House inquiry into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during the 19th Congress, findings that formed part of earlier impeachment efforts.
House leaders have described the panel as a strong prosecution team tasked to present the case professionally and in accordance with due process.
The impeachment case against Duterte includes allegations involving the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery involving DepEd officials, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.