Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The eleven-member House prosecution panel will attend the May 18 convening of the Senate impeachment court, according to one of its members, Bicol Saro Party List Rep. Terry Ridon.“All will attend. Decision to attend is based on SP Cayetano’s pronouncement that House prosecution panel has the option whether or not to attend the convening of the Senate impeachment court,” Ridon said in a statement.The prosecution team’s preparations are in full swing for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, following the lower chamber’s transmittal to the Senate of the Articles of Impeachment on Wednesday night.House impeachment prosecutors Rep. Leila de Lima, Rep. Chel Diokno, and Rep. Joel Chua said they have been holding meetings to discuss assignments on the articles. The panel is also in the process of selecting volunteer private prosecutors.“We have organized ourselves already into teams. As you know, there are four articles. And for each article, may assigned na team. But you know, overlapping naman yun. Some would be members of two or three assisted by who would be private prosecutors. So there are teams na consist only of three or four prosecutors. There are teams na more than five members, more than five public prosecutors ang kasama,” De Lima said.“Well, malaking hamon siyempre ‘yung paghahanda ng kasong kasinlaki nito. And for every article, there are many witnesses and exhibits and documents that have to be prepared, kaya pinaghahandaan namin. (07:30) Any impeachment trial is always an uphill battle dahil ang nasa top &#x27;yung respondent,  ay mataas na opisyal at may kapit. So, palagi naman &#x27;yan, the burden is on the prosecution to establish the elements of each offense. &#x27;Pag nagawa namin &#x27;yun, then it will shift to the defense now to prove otherwise,” Diokno added.Chua said he will be among the three prosecutors, who will handle the first article accusing the Vice President of confidential fund misuse. He will also help handle the second article alleging unexplained wealth, and the third article alleging bribery of Department of Education officials.“Halos karamihan sa amin mga members din nung nakaraan noong 19 Congress at yung mga previous assignment namin, ay baka doon na rin kami bumagsak,” Chua explained.<div>NO DELAYS</div>The “chaos” at the Senate on Wednesday night should not delay the impeachment proceedings against Duterte, according to some members of the House prosecution panel.“Hindi dapat &#x27;yan maging sagabal sa paglilitis ng impeachment case. Nandoon na, nadala na ang articles of impeachment kagabi at it&#x27;s incumbent upon the Senate to convene immeiately and conduct the trial. Dapat mangyari agad iyon,” Diokno said.“Nasa Senate leadership na talaga ‘yan. But they should be aware of the fact na wala dapat maging balakid,” De Lima added.Chua remains hopeful that despite the recent incident at the upper chamber, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano will be true to his word that the impeachment trial will proceed “forthwith”, now that the articles of impeachment and other relevant documents have reached the Senate.“Umaasa tayo na hindi ito made-delay, dahil umaasa rin tayo sa pamunuan ni Alan Peter na gagalangin nila ang ating Saligang Batas,” Chua said.He and De Lima believe dela Rosa should not participate in the impeachment trial, with De Lima echoing sentiments that it could taint the impeachment court’s credibility.“Since he&#x27;s the subject of a valid warrant of arrest, he shouldn&#x27;t be there anymore… His continued presence there really would taint the institution, the Senate as an institution, if he participates, lalu na sa impeachment process, na mayroong nagpa-participate na isang fugitive,” she explained.“Dapat hindi na siya naglalahok dito. But I doubt kung lalahok pa siya dito after what happened yesterday,” Chua said.But he noted that even if dela Rosa does not participate in the impeachment trial, the number of votes needed to get a conviction remains the same.“As long as miyembro pa rin si Sen. Bato ng Senado at hindi natatanggal ‘yung kanyang pangalan sa myembro, ang kailangan pa ring numero sa conviction via 2/3 vote ay 16,” Chua explained.For Diokno, that matter is for the Senate to decide, but he hopes senator-judges will show impartiality in the trial.“That&#x27;s something that the Senate must decide for itself what they will do with that situation. Basta, kami, handa kaming mag-prosecute, and nakikita naman natin as soon as the court--the Senate convenes as an impeachment court--they are obliged to act with impartiality. So, kahit sino man sila, kailangan maging patas ang kanilang pagtrato sa kaso,” he said.

The 11-member House prosecution panel will attend the May 18 convening of the Senate impeachment court, according to one of its members, Bicol Saro Party List Rep. Terry Ridon.

The 11-member House prosecution panel will attend the May 18 convening of the Senate impeachment court, according to one of its members, Bicol Saro Party List Rep. Terry Ridon.

House prosecution panel to attend May 18 convening of Senate impeachment court

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House prosecution panel to attend May 18 convening of Senate impeachment court

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 14, 2026 05:17 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

impeachment

Sara Duterte

House prosecution panel

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