Vice President Sara Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILABULLETIN)

The House prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte's upcoming impeachment trial has finally named its lead prosecutor.

In an impromptu press conference at the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon, March 25, 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez bared that--pending formality--House Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan has been given such title. 

"Although it is not yet formal, in effect, ito po yung tinatawag natin na lead prosecutor (this is what we call the lead prosecutor)," Gutierrez said, pointing to Libanan who was also present during the press conference. 

Gutierrez shared the tasks and powers that have been given to Libanan along with her designation as lead prosecutor in the impeachment trial--the first the country's history against a Vice President. 

"We have submitted the letter, the prosecutors signed by the other 10 prosecutors including myself that we have appointed, constituted, and empowered the most senior member of the public prosecutors, the honorable Marcelino C. Libanan, to perform the following acts on behalf of all public prosecutors in the VP Duterte impeachment case," he said, before enumerating the details.

"A. To executive the verification in relation to any petition, motion, pleading that must be filed on our behalf; B. To sign and file any motion, pleading, or submission on behalf of the prosecution; and C. To execute all other documents and all other acts necessary to give effect to the foregoing authority," Gutierrez said.

Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan (Facebook)

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https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/23/libanan-breaks-down-reasons-why-impeachment-trial-is-urgent

"Thus, in summary po, we have instituted the honorable Libanan to be empowered to sign any of these documents in relation to the impeachment," added the assistant minority leader.

Earlier Tuesday, Libanan along with several congressmen filed the prosecution panel's first ever pleading before the Senate in the form of an  "Entry with Motion to Issue Summons".

During the presser, Gutierrez referred to Libanan as "lead prosecutor".

The House prosecution team is composed of Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua, Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, Gutierrez, Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, San Juan lone district Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop, Libanan, General Santos City lone district Rep. Loreto Acharon, Oriental Mindoro 1st district Rep. Arnan Panaligan, and Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor.