THE impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte can proceed under the new Senate leadership unless the Supreme Court (SC) issues a temporary restraining order (TRO), the head of the House prosecution panel made clear as the constitutional clock continued to run despite the leadership dispute in the Senate.
Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said the prosecution panel remained focused on the trial schedule and the formal steps required of the House prosecutors, with the deadline for pretrial submissions and the pretrial conference now fast approaching.
“Definitely anyone can go to the Supreme Court at ang petition nila, kagaya sa impeachment, puwede may prayer din for issuance of TRO. No one can stop that,” Luistro explained during a radio interview over dzMM.
The statement answered one of the central questions arising from the Senate impasse: whether the dispute over Senate leadership can freeze the impeachment process even without a direct order from the high court stopping the new leadership from acting.
“Pero hangga’t walang TRO na na-i-issue against the new leadership, I think they can proceed. First, may basis,” Luistro stated.
Luistro pointed out that the new Senate leadership had already been recognized by the House of Representatives and the Executive, giving the prosecution panel an institutional basis to continue preparing for trial under Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian.
“Second, recognized na sila ng House, as well as the Executive represented by Malacañang,” Luistro noted.
The lead prosecutor also stressed that the timetable is no longer theoretical, as the original schedule publicly released by the Senate places the deadline for the filing of pretrial briefs and the pretrial conference within days.
“June 15, from the original timeline na nilabas nila sa media, June 15 is the deadline for filing of pretrial brief,” Luistro pointed out.
“June 18, we’re supposed to appear there for pretrial conference. So, it’s less than two weeks,” Luistro added.
Amid the uncertainty created by the Senate leadership fight, Luistro maintained that the House prosecution team cannot afford to be paralyzed by the disorder because the impeachment trial is a constitutional process demanded by the public and carried by the prosecutors in the interest of accountability.
“As lead prosecutor, dapat kampante lagi tayo. I mean, amid the apprehensions which are originating from all the irregularities and commotions that is happening in the Senate, we have a lot of reasons to stay positive and to continue believing that this will push through and hopefully without delay,” Luistro stressed.
