House prosecutors next: Leila, Chel among those suggested
The House prosecution team for the anticipated Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte may be composed of new and familiar names, including holdovers from the roster formed in 2025.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, chair of the House committee on justice, on Thursday mentioned several candidates who can make the 11-member team, a day after the panel came to a unanimous vote finding probable cause to impeach Duterte.
They include holdovers from the previous team such as Manila Rep. Joel Chua, San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, Bukidnon Rep. Keith Flores, and 1-Rider party list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, Luistro said in an interview on dzMM.
As to the possible newcomers, she mentioned Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan.
‘’We have many lawyers (on the committee),” Luistro said. “Perhaps the only question now is on their readiness and willingness to get into the thick of it again.”
‘Heated debate’ expected
Luistro explained that “it is not automatic” for her, as justice committee chair, to be on the team since its members are elected at the plenary level.
She said her focus for now is the preparation and approval of the committee report on the hearings leading to the finding of probable cause, and then the formulation of the articles of impeachment.
“Because, of course, on the floor, in the plenary, I’m anticipating a heated debate before we finally vote on whether to transmit (the articles to the Senate) or not. We need at least one-third of all the members of the House of Representatives,” Luistro added.
Getting extra help
After Duterte was first impeached by the House under the 19th Congress on Feb. 5, 2025, the prosecution that was formed also included the following: then Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop (now deceased), then Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, then General Santos City Rep. Loreto Acharon, then 4Ps Rep. Marcelino Libanan, and then Oriental Mindoro Rep. Arnan Panaligan.
Of the five, only Libanan and Panaligan are still in office.
Luistro said she would also “strongly recommend that we engage private prosecutors to help and support the members of the House who will be joining the panel.”
She conceded that “the lawyers with us here in the House of Representatives, including myself, are no longer updated when it comes to litigation.”
“Under the rules, we should be 11 public prosecutors,” she said. “But there seems to be no prohibition if we want to consider a bigger number. About the private prosecutors, the rule is silent… It will depend on us and on the private lawyers who are willing to help.’’
