The House prosecution panel is pushing for the use of Filipino and major regional languages during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to make the proceedings more understandable to the public.
House Committee on Justice Chairperson and lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro said the proposal will be formally raised at the June 18 pre-trial conference before the Senate impeachment court. She said the aim is to ensure that the constitutional process is not only conducted in accordance with legal standards but is also accessible to ordinary Filipinos.
The Batangas lawmaker acknowledged that some legal terms may be difficult to translate, but stressed that the prosecution intends for the trial to be clearly understood by the general public. She added that simultaneous translations in major regional languages are also being considered to broaden public access to the proceedings nationwide.
House impeachment spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said discussions are ongoing with the communications team on how best to present technical legal arguments in a more digestible format. He noted that impeachment proceedings are expected to involve complex terminology that may be difficult for non-lawyers to follow.
Lawmakers said the objective is to ensure greater transparency and public understanding of the issues and evidence to be presented during the trial. The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to hold its pre-trial conference on June 18, with the trial proper set to begin on July 6.