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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Win or Alan? House prosecutors to recognize Gatchalian's authority; here's why

Win or Alan? House prosecutors to recognize Gatchalian's authority; here's why

Published Jun 5, 2026 09:05 pm

At A Glance

  • Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro said the House prosecution panel will follow the official stand of the House of Representatives in the Senate leadership dispute.
  • She stressed the House already recognized Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian's leadership when it approved the concurrent resolution to adjourn sine die.
  • Luistro confirmed the 11 prosecutors will appear before Gatchalian in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.
Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian (Facebook)
Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian (Facebook)


What happens if the House prosecution panel receives separate notices from the two competing leaderships in the Senate in connection with Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.
Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro, the leader of the prosecution team, said they will make a choice based on its official stand of the Hpuse of Representatives.
According to her, the House had already recognized the new Senate leadership under Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and when the concurrent resolution to adjourn sine die was approve in plenary last Wednesday, June 3.
“With all due respect sa kanya (to him), we need to follow the direction of the institution which we represent. The House of Representatives already recognized the leadership of acting SP Win Gatchalian,” Luistro said in a radio interview Friday, June 5.
In their June 3 plenary session, senators mustered a quorum of 12 and installed Gatchalian as the new Senate President Pro Tempore. Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, designated Committee on Rules chairman during that same session, said this gave Gatchalian the authority of Acting Senate President.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, the person chosen as Senate leader by the erstwhile 13-strong majority bloc last May 11, claimed he was still the rightful Senate leader.
On May 18, the Senate convened as an impeachment court as a matter of formality. However, it has yet to hold the actual trial against the respondent, Vice President Duterte.
Luistro explained that the House prosecution team cannot take a position separate from the House of Representatives, which she said had already recognized the new Senate leadership when the concurrent resolution to adjourn sine die was approved.
The issue was raised amid the continuing Senate leadership dispute, with the prosecution panel facing the practical question of where to file pleadings and where to appear if two competing camps insist on exercising authority over the impeachment proceedings.
“So to your question, just to respond, in case dalawa notices for trial (in case there are two notices for trial), we will be appearing before the leadership of acting SP Win Gatchalian,” Luistro stressed.
The Batangueña said that the House’s recognition of the new Senate leadership was not merely symbolic, but official.
“With all due respect to the former leadership, but the House of Representatives already recognized the new leadership. When we approved our concurrent resolution to adjourn sine die, the concurrent resolution was likewise approved by the new leadership,” Luistro said.
“So to us, it operates as a recognition by the House of Representatives of the leadership of acting [Senate] President Win Gatchalian,” she noted.
Luistro says the 11 prosecutors are not acting in their personal capacities but as representatives of the House, making it improper for them to adopt a position contrary to the chamber’s institutional position.
“Definitely we will be following kung anong position ng House (that the position of the House is). And that is they are recognizing the legitimacy of the leadership of acting Senate President Win Gatchalian,” she added.

Related Tags

Alan Peter Cayetano Sherwin Gatchalian Gerville \"Jinky Bitrics\" Luistro Impeachment Sara Duterte impeachment trial
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