MANILA, Philippines — The assignments for the four articles of impeachment has been divided among the 11 members of the prosecution team as it gears up for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
During the press briefing on Tuesday, lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said that preparations by the prosecutors were now in "full swing" for both the pre-trial and the trial.
"So come the pre-trial and the trial, you will expect that the 11 prosecutors will be there to appear before the impeachment court,” she added.
Aside from Luistro, other members of the prosecution panel include Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel Diokno, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua.
Luistro said that the prosecution panel organized teams corresponding to the four impeachment articles: threats and destabilization, bribery, unexplained wealth, and confidential funds.
The article on threat and destabilization, which stems from allegations that Duterte publicly threatened President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, will be handled by Defensor, De Lima, Zamora and Luistro.
The article on bribery, involving allegations the distribution of cash envelopes during her time at the Department of Education, will be handled by Chua, Gutierrez, Bag-ao and Zamora.
The article on unexplained wealth, which centers on allegations involving Duterte’s alleged accumulation of wealth disproportionate to her declared income, including financial records and bank transaction reports discussed during House hearings, will be handled by Ridon, Diokno, Bag-ao, Gutierrez, Luistro, Chua, de Lima, Suan and Flores.
Meanwhile, the article on Duterte's alleged misuse of confidential funds will be led by Luistro, with Chua, Defensor, Gutierrez, Suan, Flores, Diokno and Ridon as members.
The House prosecution also welcomed the move of the Senate to convene as an impeachment court, stressing that the Constitution requires the trial to proceed forthwith.
“As we witnessed yesterday, the impeachment court already convened, and we commend the action of the Senate of the Philippines for responding to the mandate of the Constitution,”
