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Senate Sets May 18 Impeachment Court; Ridon Welcomes Move
Photo credit: Congress PH
Impeachment prosecutor and House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson Terry L. Ridon on Thursday welcomed the Senate’s announcement that it will formally convene as an impeachment court on May 18 at 3 p.m. for the trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
Ridon is one of 11 lawmakers elected by the House of Representatives of the Philippines to form the prosecution panel that will present the Articles of Impeachment before the Senate of the Philippines.
“Nagpapasalamat po ang House Prosecution Panel sa pagbanggit po ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano na iko-convene na po ang Senate Impeachment Court laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte sa darating na May 18, 2026, Lunes at 3PM,” he said.
“Maaasahan din po na ‘yon pong kabuuan ng House Prosecution Panel ay magpupunta rin po dito po sa araw na ito para saksihan ‘yon pong pag-convene ng Senate Impeachment Court,” Ridon added.
Under the Constitution, the Senate is required to immediately convene as an impeachment court once it receives the Articles of Impeachment from the House.
The House transmitted the Articles of Impeachment on Wednesday night, just two days after 257 lawmakers voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, with 25 voting against and nine abstaining.
The 11-member prosecution panel is composed of lawyer-lawmakers, former prosecutors, senior legislators, and veteran litigators from both majority and minority blocs.
The team includes Reps. Joel Chua (Manila 3rd District), Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal Party-list), Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro (Batangas 2nd District), Chel Diokno (Akbayan Party-list), Ysabel Maria Zamora (San Juan City), Lordan Suan (Cagayan de Oro City 1st District), Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon 2nd District), Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo 3rd District), Rodge Gutierrez (1-Rider Party-list), and Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands).
Several members of the panel have prior experience in major impeachment and prosecution proceedings, including Chel Diokno, who served as a private prosecutor during the impeachment trial of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, and Kaka Bag-ao, who was part of the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Gerville Luistro, who chairs the House Committee on Justice, previously led key House impeachment proceedings, while Leila de Lima is a former justice secretary and former chair of the Commission on Human Rights.
Joel Chua led the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s investigation into the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during the 19th Congress—findings that helped trigger the impeachment complaint.
House leaders earlier described the prosecution panel as a “powerhouse” team tasked with presenting the case while observing due process and constitutional standards.
The impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte involves allegations of misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged bribery involving DepEd officials, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Ridon is one of 11 lawmakers elected by the House of Representatives of the Philippines to form the prosecution panel that will present the Articles of Impeachment before the Senate of the Philippines.
“Nagpapasalamat po ang House Prosecution Panel sa pagbanggit po ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano na iko-convene na po ang Senate Impeachment Court laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte sa darating na May 18, 2026, Lunes at 3PM,” he said.
“Maaasahan din po na ‘yon pong kabuuan ng House Prosecution Panel ay magpupunta rin po dito po sa araw na ito para saksihan ‘yon pong pag-convene ng Senate Impeachment Court,” Ridon added.
Under the Constitution, the Senate is required to immediately convene as an impeachment court once it receives the Articles of Impeachment from the House.
The House transmitted the Articles of Impeachment on Wednesday night, just two days after 257 lawmakers voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, with 25 voting against and nine abstaining.
The 11-member prosecution panel is composed of lawyer-lawmakers, former prosecutors, senior legislators, and veteran litigators from both majority and minority blocs.
The team includes Reps. Joel Chua (Manila 3rd District), Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal Party-list), Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro (Batangas 2nd District), Chel Diokno (Akbayan Party-list), Ysabel Maria Zamora (San Juan City), Lordan Suan (Cagayan de Oro City 1st District), Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon 2nd District), Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo 3rd District), Rodge Gutierrez (1-Rider Party-list), and Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands).
Several members of the panel have prior experience in major impeachment and prosecution proceedings, including Chel Diokno, who served as a private prosecutor during the impeachment trial of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, and Kaka Bag-ao, who was part of the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Gerville Luistro, who chairs the House Committee on Justice, previously led key House impeachment proceedings, while Leila de Lima is a former justice secretary and former chair of the Commission on Human Rights.
Joel Chua led the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s investigation into the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during the 19th Congress—findings that helped trigger the impeachment complaint.
House leaders earlier described the prosecution panel as a “powerhouse” team tasked with presenting the case while observing due process and constitutional standards.
The impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte involves allegations of misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged bribery involving DepEd officials, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
May 14, 2026
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