Camille Naredo

Members of the House of Representatives votes to adopt the Articles of Impeachment and the House Committee on Justice report during a plenary session in Quezon City on May 11, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Members of the House of Representatives votes to adopt the Articles of Impeachment and the House Committee on Justice report during a plenary session in Quezon City on May 11, 2026. The House voted 257 in favor of the impeachment, while 25 voted no and 9 abstained. The Articles of Impeachment, which are based on four grounds—misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and grave threats—will be endorsed to the Senate, which will convene as the impeachment court to hold the formal trial.

Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP SARA IMPEACHMENT

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177909057376020260511-vp-sara-impeachment-plenary-JC7092.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Members of the House of Representatives votes to adopt the Articles of Impeachment and the House Committee on Justice report during a plenary session in Quezon City on May 11, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the House of Representatives votes to adopt the Articles of Impeachment and the House Committee on Justice report during a plenary session in Quezon City on May 11, 2026. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The House prosecution panel is ready for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte regardless of who sits as Senate President, Bicol Saro Party List Representative Terry Ridon said.</p><p>Ridon, a part of the House prosecution team, issued the statement amid rumors of another possible leadership change at the upper chamber, following last week&#x27;s transmittal of the articles of impeachment against Duterte.</p><p>Ridon said it should have no effect on the impeachment trial.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/17/house-prosecutors-ask-senator-judges-exhibit-political-neutrality-1804">READ: House prosecutors ask Senator-Judges: Exhibit political neutrality in impeachment trial</a></div><p>&quot;The composition of the Senate will remain the same. So, we will still have to present each and every piece of evidence and to convince at least 16 senator-judges that there is a reason to convict the Vice President,&quot; he explained.</p><p>&quot;We are prepared to make a presentation of the evidence irrespective of the Senate leadership. So kung may pagbabago man po ngayong araw na ito o wala, handa po kaming sumuong po sa paglilitis,&quot; Ridon added.</p><p>His fellow impeachment prosecutor, Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua, hopes senator-judges will show political neutrality, regardless of who leads the upper chamber.</p><p>&quot;Kung magakakaroon ng change of leadership, made-delay na naman po… Ako, kahit na sino, basta kailangan ipakita lang nila ang political neutrality nila, dahil ‘yun ang magiging oath of office nila eh,&quot; Chua told DZMM Teleradyo.</p><p>Kabataan Party List Representative Renee Co, who said she will be among the spokespersons for the House prosecution panel, said the impeachment trial against the Vice President must proceed at once.</p><p>&quot;It is a disservice to the Filipino people if the impeachment hearing is delayed any longer… Hindi dapat mahadlangan ng anumang gulo sa Senate leadership ang proseso ng impeachment… Oras na ng pananagutan, hindi ng simpatiya o pamumulitika,&quot; Co said.</p><p>Members of the House prosecution panel met on Monday morning to tackle preparations for the impeachment trial.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/-2nd-eye-ok-house-impeaches-sara-duterte-again-1702">READ: In 257-25-9 vote, House impeaches Sara Duterte</a></div><p>Asked whether House Speaker Faustino &quot;Bojie&quot; Dy III has issued a directive to the prosecution, Ridon said: &quot;Wala naman specific directive ang ating speaker, kundi talagang tugunan lang po ng House Prosecution Panel ang aming mandato sa Constitution.&quot;</p><p>The &quot;impeachment managers&quot; and &quot;spokespersons&quot; of the House prosecution team may be introduced in a press conference on Tuesday, according to Ridon.</p><p>He sees House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville Luistro possibly being designated &quot;lead prosecutor&quot;.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ATTENDANCE TO IMPEACHMENT COURT CONVENING</strong></div><p>Members of the House prosecution panel plan to attend the expected convening of the Senate as an impeachment court on Monday afternoon.</p><p>After their meeting at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Monday morning, House prosecutors headed to a location &quot;near the Senate&quot;, so they can proceed to the upper chamber as soon as they are informed that the Senate is ready to convene as an impeachment court, according to Ridon and ML Party List Representative Leila de Lima.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/senate-set-to-convene-as-impeachment-court-for-sara-duterte-trial-1211">READ: Senate set to convene as impeachment court as Cayetano leadership under threat</a></div><p>&quot;We want to be at the Senate when the Senate impeachment court convenes. Kasi parang mahirap naman magpunta yung House prosecution panel doon kung hindi pa nagko-convene yung po nga Senate Impeachment Court. So, as soon as we get notice that talaga magsisimula na po yung convening of the Impeachment Court, we will proceed there the soonest,&quot; Ridon added. </p><p>House prosecutors did not get a formal invitation to attend the Monday Senate session, but the House leadership received a letter from Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano last week stating that the Senate secretariat has been directed to include the articles of impeachment in the calendar for ordinary business for referral to the impeachment court. </p><p>The letter further stated that the impeachment court shall be convened on May 18th, absent any question on the rules and procedure relating to the transmitted articles.</p><p>In a press conference last week, Cayetano said House prosecutors have the option to attend the convening.</p><p>Once the impeachment court is convened, the House prosecution plans to submit an entry of appearance.</p>

<p>The House prosecution panel is ready for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte regardless of who sits as Senate President, Bicol Saro Party List Representative Terry Ridon said.</p>

The House prosecution panel is ready for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte regardless of who sits as Senate President, Bicol Saro Party List Representative Terry Ridon said.

House prosecution ready for VP Duterte's impeachment trial regardless of who sits as SP: Ridon

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

House prosecution ready for VP Duterte's impeachment trial regardless of who sits as SP: Ridon

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 18, 2026 03:53 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

Sara Duterte

VP Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Duterte trial

Philippine Senate

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.