House lead prosecutor: Members must go through confirmation in 20th Congress

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House lead prosecutor: Members must go through confirmation in 20th Congress

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA – The lead prosecutor of the House prosecution panel for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte said on Monday they may have to go through confirmation in the 20th Congress.

At the proclamation ceremony for party-lists, House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan said the prosecutors must be "confirmed" by lawmakers in the incoming Congress.

"Magkakaroon ng formal election yan ng lead prosecutor. Binigyan lang po ako ng special power of attorney para pumirma, to sign on behalf of the other prosecutors. Pero sa prosecution per se, magkakaroon kami ng pag-memeeting po diyan," he told reporters.

"Yung papasok na bagong prosecutors ay decision po yan ng 20th Congress. Lahat po kami mangangailangan ng confirmation at saka election by the 20th Congress," the lawmaker said.

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Libanan said they will also have an election of a new House Speaker and new minority leader because there is a new set of lawmakers due to the timeline of the lower House.

"Dati po nakaupo tayo sa 19th Congress, after sine die papasok na tayo sa 20th Congress. Ang Senado po hindi napuputol, tuloy-tuloy po sila," he explained.

Libanan acknowledged Akbayan Party-list first nominee Atty. Chel Diokno and ML Party-list first nominee Atty. Leila De Lima accepting the invitation of House Speaker Martin Romualdez to join the House prosecution panel.

However, the lead prosecutor believes Diokno and De Lima must likewise be duly elected by the members of the 20th Congress.

"Kailangan po [ng confirmation]. Kasi ang authority namin ay galing sa 19th Congress. So pag 20th Congress, ang bagong representante ng taong bayan ang nahalal sa 20th Congress. Kaya mangangailangan po sa tingin ko ng confirmation sa mga nandiyan at election sa mga papasok," Libanan said.

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When asked about certainty of conviction of the Vice President, Libanan said the prosecution is confident of its evidence.

"Sa conclusion, sa judge, kung ano ang magiging decision ay nasa kanila po yan. Pero sa prosecution, sa mga articles of impeachment ay maliwanag po at madali pong mapatunayan," he said.

Libanan said the prosecution team continues to meet to discuss their moves.

"Tuloy-tuloy po yung meeting namin, tuloy-tuloy po. Pagkatapos ng eleksyong ito ay talagang handa. Pero June 2 ay gagawa palang sila ng rules of procedure ng impeachment trial, doon palang sila gagawa," he said.

"Upon resumption of June 2 doon po natin ine-expect ang procedure at kung ano ang araw-araw na gagawin," the lawmaker added.  

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Libanan believes there will not be much changes in the assignments for the articles of impeachment.

"Palagay ko hindi masyado. Kasi kung sino yung nandoon na, kung sino yung nakahanda na ay tuloy-tuloy na yun. Pero kailangan lang i-reconfirm," he said.

Based on the proposed timeline of the Senate, the approval of the revised rules for impeachment trial is on June 2, the same day Congress resumes session.  

The start of the impeachment trial is tentatively set on July 30.

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