Eleven members of the House of Representatives have been selected to sit as prosecutors in the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The prosecution team was elected after 215 members of the House voted to impeach Vice President Duterte which paved the way for the Articles of Impeachment to be transmitted to the Senate.
The House prosecution team is composed of the following legislators: Rep. Gerville Luistro of Batangas 2nd District, Rep. Romeo of Acop of Antipolo 2nd District, Rep. Rodge Gutierrez of 1-Rider Partylist, Rep. Joel Chua of Manila 3rd District, Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon of Ako Bikol Partylist, Rep. Loreto Acharon of General Santos City Lone District, Rep. Marcelino Libanan of 4Ps Partylist, Rep. Arnan Panaligan of Oriental Mindoro 1st District , Rep. Isabel Maria Zamora of San Juan Lone District, Rep. Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo 3rd District and Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores of Bukidnon 2nd District.
According to the verified complaint approved by the House plenary, the grounds cited in the complaints are as follows: Culpable Violation of the Constitution, Betrayal of Public Trust, Graft and Corruption and Other Crimes.
The complaints were in relation to Duterte’s alleged misuse of her P125M confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (Dep-Ed).
Based on Article XI of the 1987 Constitution once the Articles of Impeachment reach the senate it will convene as an impeachment court and the senators will sit as senator judges.
The impeachment court will issue summons to the respondent and witnesses and accept testimonials and documentary evidences.
At least two-thirds or 16 votes of the 24 senators is required to impeach the respondent.
The Senate currently has only 23 members after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Senator Sonny Angara as Education Secretary.
If a government official is ousted by impeachment, he/she will be removed from office and banned from holding any position or office in the government.
(HoR Photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.