Vice President Sara Duterte (left), Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro (PPAB)

House impeachment prosecutor Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky" Luistro has advised embattled Vice President Sara Duterte to "take advantage" of the impeachment process instead of shunning it.

This, as the 11-member prosecution team has begun to file pleadings to the Senate in relation to the impeachment trial. The Senate will be hosting the proceedings not earlier than July.

"My message for her is I hope she takes advantage of this due process na ibilibigay sa kanya (that will be given to her) in the impeachment process," Luistro told her fellow lawyer, Vice President Duterte.

"Kasi the good thing about this impeachment process hindi naman po ang prosecutors lang ang bibigyan nang ebidensya (Because the good thing about this impeachment process is the prosecutors won't solely be given the opportunity to present evidence), even the defense will be given the opportunity to present its evidence," the Batangas solon said.

"So, sana contrary to what happened to the investigation na she did not participate substantially sana this time around ay mag-participate siya fully para makita natin ano ba talaga nangyari dito sa confidential funds," she added.

(So, I hope that contrary to what happened in the investigation wherein she did not participate substantially, this time around she would participate fully so that we could truly see what happened to these confidential funds.)

Luistro was referring to the series of hearings of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability last year on the subject of the P612.5-million confidential funds allocated to offices under Vice President Duterte.

As far as congressmen like Luistro is concerned, there has been no clear explanation as to how these public funds were spent. The alleged misuse of the P612.5 million funds has been listed in the articles of impeachment against Duterte.  

The camp of the Vice President had earlier asked the Supreme Court (SC) to nullify the impeachment complaint that was lodged against her by the House of Representatives.