The House prosecution panel plans to propose the use of the Filipino language during the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to make the legal proceedings more accessible to the public.
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, the lead prosecutor, announced that the team will formally introduce the proposal during the pre-trial conference scheduled for June 18.
“I wish to formalize as well on this upcoming pre-trial conference, the possibility of us, the prosecutors, and even the defense, to use Filipino language when the same is possible,” Luistro stated during a press briefing on June 15.
While Luistro acknowledged that translating specific legal terms and technical jargon could be challenging, she emphasized the importance of public comprehension.
“It is our intention na lahat ng mangyayari during the impeachment trial should be understandable on the part of the ordinary Filipinos,” she added.
Beyond the courtroom rules, the prosecution is also looking into providing trial progress summaries translated into major regional languages.
Luistro stressed that the accountability process should be transparent and not limited to legal and political circles.
“After all, this is a constitutional process. We want the entire nation to walk with us as we start, continue, and conclude the impeachment trial,” she noted.
Luistro, known for her sharp interpellations during the 19th Congress’s quad-committee hearings, has already been providing concise summaries at the start of panel hearings to streamline complex facts.
She also called on media organizations and social media platforms to help ensure accurate coverage of the trial, which is set to begin in the Senate on July 6.
Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, a spokesperson for the prosecution panel, expressed strong support for the language initiative, noting that the public deserves to fully grasp the evidence and arguments.
“Ang intensyon po talaga natin dito is mabigyan ng serbisyo ang ating mga kababayan na maintindihan nila ang pinag-uusapan sa impeachment trial,” Adiong said. “Matagal na po ito pinag-usapan at deserve po [ng taumbayan] malaman ang katotohanan.”