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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House prosecution panel prepping, strategizing for VP Duterte impeachment trial

House prosecution panel prepping, strategizing for VP Duterte impeachment trial

Published May 15, 2026 01:09 pm

At A Glance

  • The 11-member House prosecution panel prepares motions, witnesses, documentary evidence, and counter-arguments as the Senate convenes as an impeachment court on May 18.
  • Rep. Joel Chua confirms collaboration with private prosecutors and experts in constitutional law, auditing, financial forensics, corporate law, and finance, though the private team's composition remains undisclosed.
  • Vice President Sara Duterte faces trial over alleged misuse of P612.5 million confidential funds, false asset declarations, unexplained wealth, and threats against President Marcos, the First Lady, and former Speaker Romualdez.
Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB)
Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB)


The 11-strong House prosecution team in the case of the impeached Vice President Sara Duterte is knee-deep in its preparations ahead of Monday’s convening of the Senate as an imeachment court.
According to Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua, the House prosecution panel is now preparing motions, witnesses, documentary evidence, and counter-arguments ahead of the Senate trial.
“With the Senate expected to convene as an Impeachment Court on May 18, we are preparing accordingly and are ready to fulfill our constitutional duty as prosecutors," Chua said on Friday, May 15.
“We shall proceed one day at a time, one step at a time,” he noted.
“We are preparing the necessary motions. We are studying possible arguments from the defense and preparing corresponding counter-arguments. We are also preparing for possible witnesses and documentary evidence,” said the solon-prosecutor.
Chua said the prosecution team will also work with private prosecutors and experts in constitutional law, auditing, financial forensics, corporate law, and finance.
Unlike the composition of the prosecution panel, the team of private prosecutors in the impeachment trial has yet to be revealed.
On Thursday, May 13, newly-installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced that the Senate would convene as an impeachment court. He uttered this a day after the Senate received the voluminous physical impeachment documents from the House of Representatives--including the four articles of impeachment against Duterte.
“There appears to be consensus among the new Senate majority that the impeachment trial should finally proceed. That is welcome news to us in the House Prosecution Team,” Chua said.
He said the development signals that the impeachment process would now proceed “forthwith,” as required under the 1987 Constitution.
“We simply want a fair opportunity to present the articles of impeachment, prosecute the case, and allow the evidence to be appreciated by the Impeachment Court,” he added.
Vice President Duterte's conviction through impeachment trial is being sought over her offices' alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds; untruthful declarations in the filing of her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth; unexplained wealth; and death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.
The Vice President was also impeached in 2025, but the Senate--then led by Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero--failed to carry out an actual trial against the lady official.

Related Tags

joel chua Impeachment Sara Duterte impeachment court Alan Peter Cayetano Prosecution panel
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