The 11-member House prosecution panel on Monday formally entered its appearance before the Senate impeachment court, signaling the House of Representatives’ readiness to proceed with the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The formal entry was filed at 5:32 pm before the Senate impeachment court shortly after senators took their oath as judges and convened as an impeachment tribunal.
House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil personally submitted the “Formal Entry of Appearance” on behalf of the prosecution panel elected by the House.
The filing came after the House voted 257-25, with nine abstentions, to impeach Duterte and transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
The Vice President faces allegations involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
In the three-page pleading, the prosecutors formally identified themselves as public prosecutors in the impeachment case.
“The undersigned members of the House of Representatives, duly elected by the House of Representatives as members of the prosecution panel, respectfully enter their appearance as Public Prosecutors,” the document stated.
The filing designated Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, chair of the House Committee on Justice, as lead public prosecutor.
The prosecution panel also requested that all court notices, resolutions, decisions, and pleadings be furnished through the Office of the House Secretary General and the lead prosecutor.
Aside from Luistro, the prosecution team is composed of Reps. Terry Ridon, Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, Ysabel Maria Zamora, Lorenz Defensor, Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, Leila de Lima, Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, Jonathan Keith Flores, Lordan Suan, and Joel Chua.