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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House leader confident prosecutors can handle 'unconventional' strategies from VP Sara defense team

House leader confident prosecutors can handle 'unconventional' strategies from VP Sara defense team

Published Jun 21, 2026 07:07 pm

At A Glance

  • Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V says the House prosecution panel is prepared to counter any defense strategy, including unconventional moves, in Vice President Sara Duterte's Senate impeachment trial.
  • He says prosecutors anticipate possible attempts to prolong or delay proceedings but remain ready with documentary evidence and dozens of witnesses.
  • The panel, led by Rep. Gerville Luistro and composed of young lawyer‑solons, conducted extensive preparations and submitted its witness list to the Senate impeachment court.
The House prosecution team (Senate Facebook)
The House prosecution team (Senate Facebook)


Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V says the House prosecution panel is ready to take on any kind of strategy that Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team will throw at them--even "unconventional" ones.
“Malamang maraming unconventional strategies ang gagawin ng defense diyan The defense would likely employ many unconventional strategies there),” Ortega, an endorser of one of the four impeachment complaints filed this year against Duterte, said over the weekend.
“Sa tingin ko lahat ng scenarios pinaghandaan naman ng prosecutors natin (I think our prosecutors are preparing for all scenarios)," the Ilocano reckoned.
Ortega said he would not be surprised by any move from the defense panel, including the possible presentation of witnesses not previously expected to take part in the proceedings.
The prosecution and defense panels previously submitted to the Senate impeachment court last June 18 their list of witnesses for the upcoming trial against Duterte next month.
There are reports that the respondent, the Vice President, was not included in the defense panel’s initial list of possible witnesses. This came as a surprise to some, given the very personal nature of the allegations in the articles of impeachment.
“I don’t know if that’s the willing strategy ng defense, pero naniniwala ako na handa ‘yung prosecutors kung ano man (but I believe that the prosecutors are ready for whatever),” he said.
He added that some moves could be aimed at extending the proceedings.
“Nakikita po natin parang may mga, siguro sabihin na natin may konting paraan para mas humaba o ma-delay man ito. Pero nakahanda po ‘yung prosecutors natin (We anticpate some moves to perhaps prolong or delay the proceedings). They’re very well prepared."
Ortega noted that the prosecutors--composed mostly of young and promising lawyer-solons in the current 20th Congress--have conducted extensive preparations both individually and as teams assigned to specific articles of Impeachment.
The prosecution team--led by House Committee on Justice Chairperson Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro--had previously said it prepared documentary evidence and dozens of witnesses to support the charges contained in the impeachment complaint.
The prosecution panel is also composed of Reps. Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro Party-list), Ramon Rodrigo “Rodge” Gutierrez (1-Rider Party-list), Ysabel Maria Zamora (San Juan City lone district), Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo, 3rd district), Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno (Akbayan Party-list), Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal Party-list), Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands lone district), Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon, 2nd district), Lordan Suan (Cagayan de Oro, 1st district) and Joel Chua (Manila, 3rd district).

Related Tags

Paolo Ortega prosecution defense IMPEACHMENT Sara Duterte
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