By Benny Reyes
MANILA — The House prosecution panel said concerns over Senate leadership will not derail the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing that constitutional rules—not personalities—will guide the proceedings.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said the prosecution team is prepared to move forward regardless of who presides over the Senate impeachment court, naming acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, or former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano as possible presiding officers.
Luistro emphasized that impeachment is rooted in evidence and accountability, and should not be influenced by debates over leadership positions or political alignments.
She also reiterated confidence in the Senate as an institution, citing its established procedures designed to ensure fairness and due process in impeachment trials.
The lawmaker acknowledged past controversies surrounding the earlier impeachment complaint filed during the 19th Congress, but said these should not lead to premature judgments about current Senate officials.
The complaint, endorsed by over 200 lawmakers, was transmitted to the Senate in February 2025 but later became the subject of legal and constitutional debate, including questions on procedural timing.
The Supreme Court eventually ruled the Articles of Impeachment unconstitutional, citing violations of the Constitution’s one-year prohibition on multiple impeachment proceedings against the same official.
Luistro said that despite these setbacks, the House prosecution panel remains ready to present its case once formal impeachment proceedings begin, underscoring that the process is ultimately meant to uphold public trust and institutional accountability.
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