Metro Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives has formed a secretariat for prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco issued a memorandum order dated Feb. 26, and shared to the media on Friday, Feb. 28, for the creation of the group.
The secretariat will provide support to the 11-man prosecution team and will be led by the Office of the Secretary General.
“The House secretariat plays a vital role in ensuring the orderly conduct of legislative proceedings, including impeachment trials. This directive ensures that the prosecution team has access to essential logistical, research, and documentation support to facilitate a smooth and efficient trial process,” Velasco said.
“This is a routine function aligned with our constitutional duty. The House secretariat remains neutral and professional in fulfilling its mandate,” he added.
Other members of the secretariat are personnel from the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Legislative Operations Department, and Legal Affairs Department.
Personnel assigned to the Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court, will log their attendance through the HousePass monitoring system to ensure accountability.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte before it went on break on Feb. 5. The grounds of impeachment include graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.
Senate President Chiz Escudero said the impeachment trial may begin on July 30.
Trial delay risky
House lawmakers are calling for an earlier impeachment trial, citing that the law stated the proceeding should begin “forthwith.”
Impeachment prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua pointed out that delaying the trial could be risky.
“’Yung tampering of evidence, isa ‘yan. Pangalawa, ‘yung mga testigo natin, alam natin, baka mamaya ‘pag tumatagal, medyo marami diyan ang matatakot,” Chua said in a virtual briefing.
[Translation: For one, tampering of evidence. Second, our witnesses may become afraid as the trial commencement prolongs.]
Ako Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon, also an impeachment prosecutor, earlier said that the Senate as a trial court may reach a decision before the 19th Congress ends in June, if the trial would start in March.
