By Jennifer T. Santos

PASAY CITY/QUEZON CITY – The House of Representatives prosecution panel is ready for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte following an inspection by House officials of their prosecution room provided by the Senate even as some senators who will compose the Senate Impeachment Tribunal started fitting their robes and reviewing the complaints and documents submitted by the lower chamber.

Meanwhile, VP Sara, who remains confident of acquittal, is still in The Hague in Netherlands attending to the needs of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and vowed to return to the Philippines to face the impeachment tribunal. Her father himself has advised her to immediately return to the Philippines.

Duterte is facing a Senate trial on charges of “violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption and other high crimes.”

Sixteen votes in the 24-seat Senate are needed to deliver a conviction that would bar her from public office, including a presidential run in 2028 she said she is “seriously considering.”

This developed as  a survey conducted by Pulse Asia in late February showed 92 percent of Filipinos said they are aware of the impeachment case against the Vice President, with  45 percent opposing the House move to impeach Duterte.

The survey also showed only 26 percent  in favor of Duterte’s impeachment and 23 percent expressed ambivalence on the issue.

Another 7 percent were unable to express opinion due to lack of knowledge on the matter.

Senate President Francis Escudero continue to stand pat on his decision for the Senate to open consideration of the impeachment complaints when Congress resumes session in June and trial to begin in July immediately after the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. before the joint session of Congress.

Senate Secretary Renato Bantug, Jr. confirmed the fitting, saying coordination with senators to schedule the fitting began “about two weeks ago.” 

Bantug said the robes will be maroon and have the same design as the robes used during the impeachment trial of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said some of his office’s preparations on the impeachment trial, including buying “new law books.”

“We are updating doon sa rules ng evidence, [criminal procedure], and then may seminars ongoing,” he said

It was gathered that the prosecution panel has also started doing a mock trial as they “meticulously reviewed the evidence and legal arguments to ensure a solid and fact-based presentation before the Senate impeachment court.”

“Kahapon po, I was informed na nagkaroon na sila (prosecutors) ng mock trial,” House secretary general Reginald Velasco said.

“Ginagawa ho lahat ito ng mga abogado prior to the trial…para makita nila ang actual flow ng deliberations, testimonies during po the actual trial,” he added.

About 2 or 3 prosecutors are assigned for each of the 7 articles of impeachment against Duterte, Velasco said.  

“There will be private prosecutors involved,” he said. “Pwede rin po namin yung mga former congressman o former senators na abogado po, makakatulong po ‘yan.”

“Kailangan po nila ng may mga experience sa trial at magaling na researchers,” he added.

“The House has done its part in transmitting the Articles of Impeachment, and our prosecution panel is ready to present the case as soon as the impeachment court is convened,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said. “We trust that the Senate will carry out its constitutional duty and proceed with the trial without unnecessary delays, in accordance with the rule of law.”

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco and other House officials inspected the Senate facilities like the Senator Arturo M. Tolentino room in the GSIS Complex in Pasay City which were designated for the House prosecution team.

“Nakita natin sa pagbisita ng ating House Secretary General sa Senado ang kahandaan ng ating mga kasamahan sa Mataas na Kapulungan. Napakahalaga ng maaga at maayos na paghahanda upang matiyak ang kaayusan pagdating ng impeachment trial (We saw during our House Secretary General’s visit to the Senate the readiness of our colleagues in the Upper Chamber. Early and proper preparations are crucial to ensure order during the impeachment trial),” he said.

Velasco’s team also inspected the Senate session hall which will serve as the trial venue.

Romualdez reiterated that the impeachment trial is a solemn constitutional process that should be conducted with integrity and impartiality.

He also reaffirmed the House’s commitment to cooperating fully with the Senate to ensure a fair, transparent, and credible impeachment trial.