Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, who heads the House prosecution panel, raised alarms on Monday over the unresolved leadership situation in the Senate.
With the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte set to begin next month, Luistro stressed that the chamber needs a permanent resolution to safeguard the legality of the entire process.
The House of Representatives has formally recognized Senate President Pro Tempore Win Gatchalian as the chamber’s acting leader. Despite this, Luistro cautioned that the ongoing leadership vacuum could expose the proceedings to fresh constitutional litigation.
She recalled the precedent of last year’s nullified impeachment case against the Vice President, where the Supreme Court intervened due to procedural non-compliance, despite the House’s insistence that it followed every rule.
“We are of the humble position that we complied strictly with the requirements for the second mode of filing an impeachment complaint and for transmitting the same to the Senate,” Luistro stated.
However, the lawmaker noted the lingering legal vulnerabilities of that previous attempt.
“But nonetheless, you know that later on, it was declared unconstitutional by the Honorable Supreme Court.”
Luistro made it clear that the House will respect whatever leadership decision the senators make internally.
“If it is… Gatchalian, well, we will welcome that. If it will be someone else, we will welcome that because that is the judgment and prerogative of the members of the Senate,” she explained.
The Batangas representative still expressed concern that the absence of a permanently elected Senate President could open the door for a Supreme Court appeal, a move that would freeze the trial.
“We are apprehensive that we might encounter another constitutional issue because we will be starting the trial, and there is no duly elected Senate President,” she said.
Hoping to avoid a future judicial block, Luistro called for an immediate remedy before the formal trial begins.
“That is, of course, while we recognize the leadership of…Gatchalian. Sana ma-address ngayon para wala nang apprehension ng House about another possible constitutional issue to be raised in the Supreme Court.”
To help break the legislative gridlock, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a proclamation on Monday calling Congress to a special session this Wednesday. These crucial developments unfold just days before the Senate impeachment court kicks off its pre-trial conference on June 18.