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Advocates Philippines
Diokno Says House Balancing Sara Trial, Quake Relief
Congress FILE
Even as lawmakers gear up for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, House prosecutor and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel Diokno said helping communities devastated by the powerful Mindanao earthquake remains a priority for the House of Representatives.
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, Diokno said preparations for the constitutional proceedings have not distracted lawmakers from the needs of families affected by the disaster.
“Even though we are in the middle of preparing for the impeachment trial, what happened and what is happening in Lindol in Mindanao is not far from our minds and conscience,” Diokno said.
According to Diokno, members of the House immediately began organizing relief and donation drives after the quake struck.
“Actually, when that happened, the members of the House already came together,” Diokno said.
“We have already begun a donation and relief efforts,” he added.
He said more than 100 lawmakers have already committed assistance, with some contributing from their own personal resources to support affected residents.
“There have been over a hundred members of the House who have already pledged support, some of them even their own personal resources, to help the victims of the earthquake disaster,” Diokno said.
“Under the leadership of Speaker Bojie Dy, the members of the House of Representatives are coming together,” Diokno said.
Diokno stressed that carrying out the impeachment process does not prevent lawmakers from responding to urgent humanitarian concerns.
“Impeachment is one of our duties under the Constitution, but helping the victims of this earthquake is a humanitarian duty,” Diokno said.
“We do not forget that,” he added.
He said the House is making sure that aid reaches families and communities that suffered from the disaster.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure that those efforts will reach the affected families and communities,” Diokno said.
The lawmaker added that the collective effort from the House complements separate relief initiatives being undertaken by individual legislators together with their districts, local government partners and constituents.
“That is on top of the individual efforts being done by many of our House members to extend assistance through their own districts, local government partners, and constituents,” Diokno said.
“Our service continues,” he added.
Diokno also emphasized that the House remains committed to carrying out its legislative responsibilities while extending support to earthquake victims.
“While we are in the middle of preparing for this constitutional trial, we are also not forgetting our duties to legislate, and of course our duties to provide as much assistance and support as we can to those who were affected by the earthquake,” Diokno said.
He said lawmakers are determined to balance their constitutional mandate with their responsibility to respond to the humanitarian crisis facing communities in Mindanao.
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, Diokno said preparations for the constitutional proceedings have not distracted lawmakers from the needs of families affected by the disaster.
“Even though we are in the middle of preparing for the impeachment trial, what happened and what is happening in Lindol in Mindanao is not far from our minds and conscience,” Diokno said.
According to Diokno, members of the House immediately began organizing relief and donation drives after the quake struck.
“Actually, when that happened, the members of the House already came together,” Diokno said.
“We have already begun a donation and relief efforts,” he added.
He said more than 100 lawmakers have already committed assistance, with some contributing from their own personal resources to support affected residents.
“There have been over a hundred members of the House who have already pledged support, some of them even their own personal resources, to help the victims of the earthquake disaster,” Diokno said.
“Under the leadership of Speaker Bojie Dy, the members of the House of Representatives are coming together,” Diokno said.
Diokno stressed that carrying out the impeachment process does not prevent lawmakers from responding to urgent humanitarian concerns.
“Impeachment is one of our duties under the Constitution, but helping the victims of this earthquake is a humanitarian duty,” Diokno said.
“We do not forget that,” he added.
He said the House is making sure that aid reaches families and communities that suffered from the disaster.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure that those efforts will reach the affected families and communities,” Diokno said.
The lawmaker added that the collective effort from the House complements separate relief initiatives being undertaken by individual legislators together with their districts, local government partners and constituents.
“That is on top of the individual efforts being done by many of our House members to extend assistance through their own districts, local government partners, and constituents,” Diokno said.
“Our service continues,” he added.
Diokno also emphasized that the House remains committed to carrying out its legislative responsibilities while extending support to earthquake victims.
“While we are in the middle of preparing for this constitutional trial, we are also not forgetting our duties to legislate, and of course our duties to provide as much assistance and support as we can to those who were affected by the earthquake,” Diokno said.
He said lawmakers are determined to balance their constitutional mandate with their responsibility to respond to the humanitarian crisis facing communities in Mindanao.
Jun 11, 2026
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