The 11-member House prosecution panel has begun full preparations for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte following the Senate’s formal convening as an impeachment court.
Lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said the prosecution team is already organizing its strategy for both the pre-trial phase and the actual trial proceedings.
“We are currently preparing already for the forthcoming pre-trial and trial of these Articles of Impeachment,” she said during the panel’s first press conference after the Senate convened as an impeachment tribunal.
She assured the public that all 11 prosecutors are now fully engaged in preparation work ahead of the proceedings.
The House panel has divided responsibilities among prosecutors based on the four major Articles of Impeachment filed against Duterte: threats and destabilization, bribery, unexplained wealth, and confidential funds.
Luistro clarified that the assignments remain subject to adjustment and may not necessarily reflect the order in which the articles will be presented during the trial.
The article involving alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez will be handled by Iloilo Representative Lorenz Defensor with Luistro, Leila de Lima, and San Juan Rep. Ysabel Zamora as members.
Meanwhile, the bribery article, which includes allegations involving the supposed distribution of “HOPE” cash envelopes linked to Department of Education (DepEd) procurement activities, will be led by Manila Rep. Joel Chua together with Representatives Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, Kaka Bag-ao, and Zamora.
The article on alleged unexplained wealth, which involves accusations concerning Duterte’s financial records and reported bank transactions, will be handled by Rep. Terry Ridon along with several members of the prosecution panel, including Chel Diokno, De Lima, Chua, Gutierrez, Bag-ao, Luistro, Lordan Suan, and Jonathan Keith Flores.
Luistro herself will lead the prosecution team handling the article involving the alleged misuse and liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the DepEd during Duterte’s term as Education secretary.
The House prosecutors also welcomed the Senate’s move to formally convene as an impeachment court but stressed that the Constitution requires not only the convening of the tribunal but also the prompt start of the trial itself.
“As we witnessed yesterday, the impeachment court already convened, and we commend the action of the Senate of the Philippines for responding to the mandate of the Constitution,” Luistro said.
“Nevertheless, let us all be reminded that what is mandated to be forthwith is not only the convening, it is the trial that is mandated to be forthwith,” she added.