Photo credit: Atty. Gerville Luistro

The House prosecution panel said it is acting on behalf of the Filipino people—not any political or personal interest—as preparations intensify for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Lead prosecutor Atty. Gerville Luistro of Batangas made the statement after the panel submitted its pre-trial brief to the Senate impeachment court, ahead of the June 18 pre-trial conference and the July 6 start of the trial.

“Please understand that the House of Representatives in this impeachment trial is representing the sovereign Filipino people. Impeachment is a mechanism that was given to the Filipino people to go against the erring public official,” Luistro said.

“In other words, the interest which is being represented by us in this trial is not our personal interest but the interest of the Filipino people. Suffice it to say that we need to share to the people whom we represent what is going on as far as the preparation for the trial is concerned,” she added.

Luistro said the prosecution has been regularly updating the public on its preparations, including the submission of its pre-trial brief, witness list, and documentary evidence. She emphasized that transparency is part of the public’s right to information.

“This is the people’s right to information. That is why we are prompted to update from time to time what is happening with regards to the preparation of the prosecutors,” she said.

“The people are our client here and they need to know the things that the public prosecutors are doing in relation to this trial,” she added.

House prosecution spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong echoed the call for public engagement, saying the impeachment trial will test the country’s constitutional accountability mechanisms.

“Hinihikayat po namin ang ating taong bayan na makilahok, makinig at mag-update po patungkol dito sa impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte,” Adiong said.

“Tulad po ng sinabi ng ating lead counsel si Congresswoman Jinky Luistro, ang kliyente po ng House Prosecution Team ay ang taong bayan,” he added.

Adiong said public awareness is important because the proceedings involve constitutional accountability and public trust in government.

“Again, we are requesting the public to join our call for the proceeding of an immediate open trial of the Impeachment Court,” he said.

Luistro also confirmed that the prosecution panel has expanded its list of potential witnesses from 25 to 57 to ensure that all relevant evidence is properly presented.

“We became very conscious about the rule that witnesses and exhibits which are not marked or presented during pre-trial cannot be presented during trial. Ibig sabihin, nagsigurado na kami,” Luistro said in an interview with radio dzBB.

She said the expanded list was included in the 57-page pre-trial brief submitted to the Senate impeachment court.

“As to the number of witnesses, the final number is 57,” she confirmed.

Luistro explained that impeachment rules require all witnesses and evidence to be identified and marked during pre-trial, or else they may no longer be allowed during the actual trial.

“Hindi pwede. Bawal ang surprise witnesses. That is why lahat ng ebidensya dapat mamarkahan during pre-trial,” she said.

She added that while 57 witnesses are listed, the prosecution has yet to decide how many will actually testify once the trial begins.

“But of course it is the discretion of the prosecution kung ‘yan bang 57 na ‘yan, in total number ay ipre-present lahat during the trial. The discretion is with us,” she said.

Luistro noted that the article involving alleged misuse of confidential funds is expected to have the most witnesses due to the volume of documents that must be authenticated in court.

The impeachment case against Duterte includes allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against public officials.