The House prosecution panel on Monday formally registered its appearance before the Senate Impeachment Court, marking a crucial step forward in the impending trial of Vice President Sara Duterte following the formal swearing-in of senator-judges.
House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil personally submitted the three-page “Formal Entry of Appearance” on behalf of the 11-member prosecution team elected by the lower chamber.
“The undersigned members of the House of Representatives, duly elected by the House of Representatives as members of the prosecution panel, respectfully enter their appearance as Public Prosecutors,” the panel stated in the document.
The pleading officially designated Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, who chairs the House Committee on Justice, as the lead public prosecutor. It requested that all official court communications, notices, and mandates be routed through the Office of the House Secretary General.
“It is, thus, respectfully requested that, henceforth, all copies of all pleadings, resolutions, decisions, notices, and other processes of this Honorable Court be furnished to the Lead Public Prosecutor, Representative Gerville R. Luistro,” the submission read.
Aside from Luistro, the document bore the signatures of the rest of the prosecution roster, which includes Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, San Juan City Lone District Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, Dinagat Islands Lone District Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan, and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua.
The formal filing underscores the House’s readiness to prosecute the case after a resounding 257-25 vote, with nine abstentions, sent the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
The transmitted charges accuse Vice President Duterte of bribery, unexplained wealth, misuse of confidential funds, and making explicit threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.