A HOUSE prosecutor on Friday said the long-delayed trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte now appears set to finally move forward, with the Senate scheduled to convene as an impeachment court on May 18, as announced by newly elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua welcomed the development, saying it signals that the impeachment process would now proceed “forthwith,” as required under the 1987 Constitution.
Chua said Cayetano’s announcement shows there is now growing support within the Senate to move forward with the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.
“There appears to be consensus among the new Senate majority that the impeachment trial should finally proceed. That is welcome news to us in the House Prosecution Team,” Chua said.
“We simply want a fair opportunity to present the Articles of Impeachment, prosecute the case, and allow the evidence to be appreciated by the Impeachment Court,” he added.
The House of Representatives recently transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate after an overwhelming 257 lawmakers voted to impeach Duterte for the second time, far exceeding the one-third vote required under the Constitution to elevate the case for trial.
The charges include the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
Chua said the House prosecution panel sees no reason the Senate trial will not proceed, unlike last year when the chamber held off acting because of a pending Supreme Court petition questioning the House’s first impeachment of Duterte.
“With the Senate expected to convene as an Impeachment Court on May 18, we are preparing accordingly and are ready to fulfill our constitutional duty as prosecutors,” he said.
Chua said the Senate trial would allow both the prosecution and Duterte’s camp to fully present their evidence and arguments before the senator-judges.
“We believe the senator-judges likewise want the opportunity to hear the side of the twice-impeached Vice President Duterte and to examine the evidence that the House Prosecution Team will present before the Impeachment Court,” he said.
He also said recent developments before the Supreme Court (SC) do not indicate any imminent intervention that would halt the proceedings.
“We also note that the Supreme Court has not been inclined to issue TROs in recent related matters. That gives us confidence that the constitutional process is being allowed to move forward,” Chua said.
According to Chua, the House prosecution panel is now preparing motions, witnesses, documentary evidence, and counter-arguments ahead of the Senate trial.
“We shall proceed one day at a time, one step at a time,” Chua said.
He added: “We are preparing the necessary motions. We are studying possible arguments from the defense and preparing corresponding counter-arguments. We are also preparing for possible witnesses and documentary evidence.”
Chua said the prosecution team will also work with private prosecutors and experts in constitutional law, auditing, financial forensics, corporate law, and finance.
