The House prosecution panel said any possible change in Senate leadership should not derail the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing that the evidence and witnesses must be fully presented before the impeachment court.
The panel said its main objective is to ensure that senator-judges are given enough time to personally evaluate the evidence, hear witness testimonies and decide the case based on the Articles of Impeachment.
The statement came as reports circulated of another possible leadership change in the Senate, where members of the minority bloc have floated Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as a possible replacement for Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
House trial spokesperson and Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong said the prosecution panel respects the Senate’s internal processes as a co-equal branch, but maintained that political movements in the chamber should not affect the impeachment case.
“Ang House prosecution panel team po ay handa po sila sa pag-presenta po nila ng kanilang ebidensya,” he said in a radio interview. “Ito po ay internal dynamics ng Senado at mayroon po tayong tinatawag na institutional respect courtesy sa ating co-equal branch.”
The Senate impeachment court convened on May 18 and has tentatively set the start of pre-trial proceedings on July 6, after Duterte’s expected submission of her answer to the Articles of Impeachment on June 1 and the adjournment of Congress’ regular session by June 6.
The House impeached Duterte by a 257-25-9 vote on May 11. The complaint includes allegations tied to confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and threats.
The prosecution panel said the trial should not be rushed, but it also should not be subjected to unnecessary delays. It said the public has the right to understand the evidence, while the respondent also has the right to avoid undue delay in the judgment of the impeachment court.
According to the panel, the process is also a test of the Constitution’s accountability mechanism, showing that no public official is beyond scrutiny regardless of position.
The leadership issue in the Senate intensified after Cayetano assumed the Senate presidency on May 11, the same day Duterte was impeached by the House. His rise to the post reportedly came after Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa emerged from months of hiding to cast a crucial vote.
Despite the uncertainty, the House side said the evidence to be presented against the Vice President will remain the same even if the Senate leadership changes.
“Tama po ‘yun, ang pinaghahandaan po natin ay yung petsa na idineklara initially ng impeachment court,” Alonto Adiong said. “Kung magkakaroon man ng changes sa liderato sa Senado, wala po roon changes sa ebidensyang maiprepresenta ng House prosecution panel.”