Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon stated on Saturday that official deliberations regarding the composition of the House prosecution panel have yet to take place, even as names of potential members begin to circulate.
According to Ridon, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Justice, Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, has suggested a preliminary list of candidates.
This roster includes several lawmakers who were involved in the previous, unsuccessful impeachment attempt against Vice President Sara Duterte last year.
“Binanggit din niya, magkakaroon malamang ng private prosecutors na tutulong din po sa public prosecutors,” Ridon shared during a media forum.
The prospective lineup mentioned by Luistro reportedly features a mix of seasoned and younger legislators, including San Juan City Representative Ysabel Zamora, Bukidnon Representative Keith Flores, Manila Representative Joel Chua, and Cagayan de Oro Representative Lordan Suan. Notable additions to the list include Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno and Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima, as well as 1-Rider Representative Rodge Gutierrez.
Ridon explained that the final roster will likely be consolidated only after the House plenary votes to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
If Luistro’s suggestions are followed, only four members from the original 11-person panel formed during the February 2025 impeachment bid—which was ultimately declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court—would remain.
When asked about his own readiness for the high-profile legal battle, Ridon, a lawyer, expressed confidence in his colleagues’ grasp of the allegations.
“I think lahat ng miyembro ng committee on justice, kahit nakapikit, kabisado na nila yung kabuuan ng kaso,” he remarked.
The formalization of the prosecution team remains the final step for the House before the trial shifts to the Senate, acting as an impeachment court.