The House prosecution panel said it is ready to present its evidence in the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing that its main task is to prove the Articles of Impeachment and help the public understand the case.
House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the prosecution team expects the case to proceed to a full presentation of evidence before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
“Yun ang ina-anticipate natin because we are saying that the House-level panel, prosecution team is ready, more than ready, 150 percent ready to face the impeachment court and present evidence,” he said.
The House earlier voted overwhelmingly to impeach Duterte and transmit the case to the Senate. The allegations involve confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and threats.
The Mindanaoan legislator said the prosecution will not shape its strategy around possible scenarios in the Senate, such as delays, archival, resignation or other developments that may or may not happen.
“That is the premise where we’re coming from. As to the eventualities that might happen within the Senate, that is for us something that we cannot bank our position on,” he said.
He said the panel’s focus is on explaining the allegations and presenting the Articles of Impeachment clearly to the public.
The lawmaker said the House prosecution team is prepared to comply with whatever rules and schedule the Senate impeachment court adopts.
“Well, sa amin naman sinusunod namin kung ano man ang alituntunin na i-adopt ng korte. Nirerespeto namin ito,” Alonto Adiong said, adding that prosecutors are ready to appear “maski anong araw, maski anong oras” depending on the Senate’s decision.
He said the impeachment trial is not only a legal proceeding but also a public accountability process involving all Filipinos.
“Ito pong impeachment na ito lahat po tayo stakeholders dito, karapatan po nating malaman ang katotohanan,” he said.
He urged the public, civil society groups and other sectors to help protect the integrity of the trial by resisting false, misleading and manipulated information that may distort the proceedings.
“So I’m calling, I’m appealing to all civil society organizations, all sectors of our society, that this impeachment trial, let’s help and support each other to preserve and protect the sanctity of the impeachment trial, of the impeachment court,” the solon said.
He warned that disinformation could weaken public understanding of the evidence and damage the constitutional process.
“Kasi pag nanalo po ang mali, ang unang-una pong biktima ay ang katotohanan,” he said.
He remarked that the credibility of the Constitution’s accountability mechanism is at stake, adding that the process must remain firm, credible and anchored on public trust.