Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro has confirmed her recognition of the newly established Senate leadership under Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian, highlighting that the House prosecution panel must remain aligned with the official stance of the House of Representatives.
During a television interview, Luistro emphasized that the 11-member prosecution team is duty-bound to follow the directive of the lower chamber.
“The House of Representatives already recognized the new leadership under acting SP (Senate President) Win Gatchalian and therefore we will be following the direction of the House,” Luistro said.
The Batangas lawmaker currently heads the House prosecution panel tasked with managing the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The shakeup in the Senate leadership took place on Wednesday after Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero made an unexpected appearance to help form a quorum. This move effectively resolved a two-day deadlock, enabling 12 senators to vote Gatchalian into office as Senate president pro tempore.
Meanwhile, embattled Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has condemned the transition, labeling it an “illegal coup d’etat” and insisting that he remains the rightful leader of the upper chamber.
Despite the ongoing leadership dispute between the two Senate factions, Luistro expressed confidence that the transition stands on solid legal ground, citing the 1949 landmark jurisprudence of Avelino v. Cuenco regarding Senate leadership quorums.
“I am convinced, I join the opinion of the new leadership that the jurisprudence is applicable to what happened last Wednesday when acting SP Win Gatchalian was elected,” the Batangas lawmaker said.
Luistro further clarified that the House prosecutors will participate in the impeachment trial proceedings under the leadership recognized by their chamber.
“The situation is very clear to us. Kung nasaan ang House of Representatives, nandodoon din ang 11 prosecutors,” she added.
As Gatchalian pledged to maintain the original schedule for the trial, Luistro assured that the prosecution team is moving forward with its preparations for the pre-trial conference set on June 18.