Photo credit: Congress PH

The House prosecution panel remains confident in its case against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying its optimism is rooted in the evidence it has gathered—not in the separate legal issues now facing some senators perceived to be allied with the Vice President.

House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong made the clarification after being asked whether the prosecution team had become more confident as some Duterte-aligned senators, including Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, deal with legal controversies unrelated to the impeachment proceedings.

"Well, yes. But the House prosecution panel has confidence in our evidence that we already obtained and we will present to the impeachment court," Alonto Adiong said.

The House prosecution team is currently preparing for the Senate impeachment trial, where Duterte is expected to answer allegations that include the alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against top government officials.

While political developments continue to unfold in the Senate, Adiong emphasized that the prosecution's case stands on its own and is not connected to any legal challenges involving individual senators.

"If you look at individual cases that the individual senators are now facing, ito po ‘yung mga kaso na walang connection sa impeachment trial na ito," he said.

According to the House spokesperson, it is merely a coincidence that some senators currently facing separate legal battles are also seen as being politically associated with the Vice President.

"It is also beyond our control that, again, unfortunately, some of the senators now that faces individual legal battles happen to be associated or happen to be in a group associated with the Vice President,” he said.

Adiong stressed that neither the House prosecution panel nor groups supporting the impeachment case had any role in those legal matters.

"And that is already beyond our control. That is not something that is deliberately done by any of the agencies in our government nor neither any individual or group that might also be supporting this impeachment trial," he pointed out.

He said the focus of the prosecution team remains on ensuring accountability and upholding constitutional processes rather than engaging in political conflicts.

"Again, let me also reiterate that we don't wish any ill will against anyone, especially our members of our co-equal branch. But then again, we have to also stand side by side with the Constitution and allow accountability for any public officers," he said.

Adiong also reminded public officials that holding office comes with the responsibility of answering allegations through lawful and constitutional means.

"Because in the first place, before our election, we have sworn to abide by the Constitution. And we have sworn that we will face any charges that may lay before us," Adiong said.

As preparations for the impeachment trial continue, the House prosecution panel maintains that the proceedings should be judged on the evidence presented before the impeachment court, while separate legal cases involving senators should follow their own course under the rule of law.