NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Luistro Says VP Duterte Trial Is About Accountability, Not Personalities
Photo credit: Congress PH
House lead prosecutor and Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro said the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should not be viewed as a contest centered on personalities, but as a constitutional process aimed at ensuring public accountability.
Luistro made the statement amid ongoing discussions over who will preside over the impeachment proceedings, including the possibility that Senator Francis Escudero could take on the role as the Senate prepares for the June 18 pretrial conference.
According to Luistro, the impeachment case goes beyond the identities of the presiding officer, senator-judges, or prosecutors. She stressed that the process is rooted in the Constitution’s principle that public office is a public trust and that government officials must remain accountable to the people.
The Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court to hear the case against Duterte, who is facing four Articles of Impeachment transmitted by the House of Representatives.
Despite questions surrounding Senate leadership and who may ultimately preside over the proceedings, Luistro expressed confidence in the country’s constitutional accountability mechanisms. She said the House prosecution panel is prepared to work with whoever is designated to lead the impeachment court, whether it be Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian, Escudero, or former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
Luistro also urged the public not to judge any potential presiding officer solely based on previous impeachment-related proceedings, noting that the circumstances surrounding the current case differ from those in the past.
She emphasized that the impeachment process should not be reduced to a debate over conviction or acquittal. Instead, she described it as an essential democratic mechanism designed to uphold accountability among the country's highest public officials.
The lawmaker said the House prosecution team views its role as a duty to defend the Constitution and protect the interests of the Filipino people.
Luistro added that prosecutors are prepared to face criticism, pressure, and the challenges of trial preparation because the case involves safeguarding one of the country's most important systems for ensuring government accountability.
Luistro made the statement amid ongoing discussions over who will preside over the impeachment proceedings, including the possibility that Senator Francis Escudero could take on the role as the Senate prepares for the June 18 pretrial conference.
According to Luistro, the impeachment case goes beyond the identities of the presiding officer, senator-judges, or prosecutors. She stressed that the process is rooted in the Constitution’s principle that public office is a public trust and that government officials must remain accountable to the people.
The Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court to hear the case against Duterte, who is facing four Articles of Impeachment transmitted by the House of Representatives.
Despite questions surrounding Senate leadership and who may ultimately preside over the proceedings, Luistro expressed confidence in the country’s constitutional accountability mechanisms. She said the House prosecution panel is prepared to work with whoever is designated to lead the impeachment court, whether it be Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian, Escudero, or former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
Luistro also urged the public not to judge any potential presiding officer solely based on previous impeachment-related proceedings, noting that the circumstances surrounding the current case differ from those in the past.
She emphasized that the impeachment process should not be reduced to a debate over conviction or acquittal. Instead, she described it as an essential democratic mechanism designed to uphold accountability among the country's highest public officials.
The lawmaker said the House prosecution team views its role as a duty to defend the Constitution and protect the interests of the Filipino people.
Luistro added that prosecutors are prepared to face criticism, pressure, and the challenges of trial preparation because the case involves safeguarding one of the country's most important systems for ensuring government accountability.
Jun 13, 2026
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