Courtesy: Senate of the Philippines
THE House prosecution will keep its full 11-member panel in place for now, shelving a proposal for some prosecutors to resign so they could speak publicly about Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
“We have decided, wala na lang munang mag-resign,” House prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua said Tuesday.
The panel considered a reshuffle after the Senate impeachment court reiterated limits on public comments about matters being tried. One option was for selected House prosecutors to leave the panel and serve only as spokespersons.
“Noong una, isa iyon sa mga naging discussion kung ganoon ang mangyayari. Kasi iyon ang talagang unang option,” Chua said at the prosecution post-trial press conference.
The idea drew support from lawyers working with the team.
“May mga suggestion ang ibang private prosecutor at public prosecutor na may ilan na mag-resign para maging spokesperson,” Chua said.
The prosecution ultimately chose continuity. The House formally elected the 11 prosecutors in May. Chua said changing that structure this late would require removing members and finding replacements.
“After considering everything, total isang buwan na lang kung masusunod iyong ating target,” Chua said.
Instead of changing personnel, the team will keep public briefings focused on schedules, witness sequencing and other procedural updates.
“Susubukan na lang namin to explain in a way na hindi tayo magta-touch sa merits,” he said.
That was also why Chua, a public prosecutor, appeared at Tuesday’s briefing. He said reporters could still ask about what comes next without forcing prosecutors into a public discussion of the evidence.
“Baka may magtanong tungkol sa procedural aspect outside the merits of the case, so I can answer that,” Chua said.
The approach allows the public to receive practical updates while the same prosecutors continue their work inside the impeachment court. It also preserves the team’s current assignments as the prosecution tries to finish Article I on confidential funds and move to the remaining articles.
Asked whether the 11-member group would remain intact, Chua answered yes.
“Too late na kung magbabawas tayo at magdadagdag pa,” he said, adding that the panel would keep the 11-member prosecution team elected by the House.
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