House prosecutors are preparing for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as the Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court on May 18.
A member of the House prosecution panel welcomed the development, saying it indicates that the long-delayed proceedings may finally move forward in accordance with the Constitution.
The announcement of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano showed there is now apparent support in the chamber to take up the Articles of Impeachment transmitted by the House of Representatives, according to Manila Rep. Joel Chua.
“There appears to be consensus among the new Senate majority that the impeachment trial should finally proceed. That is welcome news to us in the House Prosecution Team,” the Manila solon said.
“We simply want a fair opportunity to present the Articles of Impeachment, prosecute the case, and allow the evidence to be appreciated by the Impeachment Court,” he added.
The House earlier voted to impeach Duterte for the second time, with 257 lawmakers supporting the complaint, which was well above the one-third vote required under the 1987 Constitution to send the case to the Senate for trial.
The impeachment charges include the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Chua said the prosecution team sees no reason for the Senate not to proceed, unlike the previous year when action was deferred due to a pending Supreme Court petition challenging the House’s first impeachment complaint against Duterte.
“With the Senate expected to convene as an Impeachment Court on May 18, we are preparing accordingly and are ready to fulfill our constitutional duty as prosecutors,” he said.
Chua said the Senate trial would give both the prosecution and Duterte’s defense team the proper forum to present evidence and arguments before the senator-judges.
“We believe the senator-judges likewise want the opportunity to hear the side of the twice-impeached Vice President Duterte and to examine the evidence that the House Prosecution Team will present before the Impeachment Court,” he said.
He also noted that recent Supreme Court actions do not appear to signal any immediate intervention that could stop the proceedings.
“We also note that the Supreme Court has not been inclined to issue TROs in recent related matters. That gives us confidence that the constitutional process is being allowed to move forward,” he remarked.
According to Chua, the House prosecution panel is now preparing the necessary motions, possible witnesses, documentary evidence, and counter-arguments to anticipated defenses.
“We shall proceed one day at a time, one step at a time,” he said.
“We are preparing the necessary motions. We are studying possible arguments from the defense and preparing corresponding counter-arguments. We are also preparing for possible witnesses and documentary evidence,” he added.
Chua said the panel will also work with private prosecutors and experts in constitutional law, auditing, financial forensics, corporate law, and finance as it builds its case for trial.