The House prosecution team is seeking a fair opportunity to present its evidence and the formal Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte as the Senate prepares to sit as an impeachment court.
Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua, a member of the prosecution panel, welcomed the announcement made by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano that the upper chamber will officially convene the trial on Monday, May 18. The development follows the House of Representatives’ transmission of the impeachment charges to the Senate last Wednesday, May 13, after a historic vote to impeach the Vice President on May 11.
“There appears to be consensus among the new Senate majority that the impeachment trial should finally proceed. That is welcome news to us in the House Prosecution Team,” Chua said. “We simply want a fair opportunity to present the Articles of Impeachment, prosecute the case, and allow the evidence to be appreciated by the Impeachment Court.”
Chua stated that the panel is currently organizing its legal strategy, which includes drafting motions, securing witnesses, compiling documentary evidence, and mapping out counter-arguments against the defense. To bolster their case, the House prosecutors are collaborating with private law practitioners and specialized experts in constitutional law, auditing, financial forensics, corporate law, and finance.
“With the Senate expected to convene as an Impeachment Court on May 18, we are preparing accordingly and are ready to fulfill our constitutional duty as prosecutors,” Chua noted. “We believe the senator-judges likewise want the opportunity to hear the side of the twice-impeached Vice President Duterte and to examine the evidence that the House Prosecution Team will present before the Impeachment Court.”
The trial will center on four specific Articles of Impeachment approved by the House:
- Article I: Alleged systematic misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
- Article II: Alleged unexplained wealth, discrepancies in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), and continued business interests.
- Article III: Alleged bribery and cash payments to DepEd officials, specifically involving cash envelopes reportedly received by Gloria Jumamil-Mercado, Resty Osias, and Runna Catalan.
- Article IV: Alleged assassination plot, grave threats, and inciting to sedition directed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.