As the impeachment of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte moves closer to trial, the 11-member House prosecution panel on Tuesday laid out each prosecutor’s specific assignments, signaling the panel’s readiness for the long-awaited Senate proceedings.
During a press conference, lead prosecutor and House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas announced how the panel would divide responsibilities across the four articles of impeachment.
At the same time, Luistro named Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co and House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur as House trial spokespersons.
The impeachment articles stem from the justice committee’s clarificatory hearings on the latest impeachment bid against Duterte, as well as the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s probe into the alleged misuse of confidential funds by her offices during the 19th Congress.
Luistro said each prosecutor would be assigned to at least two articles, allowing the panel to share the burden of presenting evidence, examining witnesses, and defending the charges against Duterte. Each article will also have a lead prosecutor and second lead prosecutor.