The House of Representatives is set to deploy its “full team” to the Senate on May 18 as the upper chamber officially transforms into an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte.
Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon confirmed on Thursday that all 11 members of the prosecution panel will be in attendance for the formal convening scheduled at 3 p.m. Monday.
The move comes exactly one week after the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impeach the Vice President.
“Yup [the] full team will attend.”
The proceedings gained momentum Wednesday night when House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil transmitted the articles of impeachment and supporting evidence to the Senate in Pasay City.
Under the Constitution, the Senate must convene “forthwith” upon receipt of these documents.
Following Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s announcement that the court would indeed be convened, Ridon expressed the panel’s readiness to proceed.
“Nagpapasalamat po ang House prosecution panel sa pagbanggit po ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano na iko-convene na po ang Senate impeachment court laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte sa darating na May 18, 2026, Lunes at 3 p.m.”
“Maaasahan din po na ‘yon pong kabuuan ng House prosecution panel ay magpupunta rin po dito po sa araw na ito para saksihan ‘yon pong pag-convene ng Senate impeachment court.”
The prosecution team, described by House leadership as a “powerhouse” assembly of veteran litigators and legal experts, includes notable figures such as Leila de Lima, Chel Diokno, and Gerville Luistro, who is expected to act as lead prosecutor.
The trial centers on a series of grave allegations against the Vice President, including the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, and supposed death threats directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other top officials.
This 2026 case follows a previous 2025 impeachment attempt that was ultimately derailed by the Supreme Court on technical grounds—a hurdle lawmakers now claim to have overcome with a “legally airtight” complaint.