Tinanggap nina Leila de Lima at Chel Diokno ang imbitasyon ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez na maging bahagi sila ng prosecution team ng Kamara de Representantes sa impeachment trial laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
Inaasahang magiging miyembro ng Kamara sa papasok na 20th Congress si de Lima, bilang first nominee ng ML Partylist. Habang first nominee naman ng Akbayan party-list si Diokno.
Parehong abogado sina de Lima at Diokno.
"Got a call from the Speaker just an hour ago. I answered yes to the suggestion/offer to be part of the prosecution panel," ayon kay De Lima nitong Miyerkoles.
"I've always believed that public office comes with the duty to uphold accountability, no matter the personalities involved. This is part of my continuing work for justice and reform. I'm here to serve the truth—nothing more, nothing less," dagdag ni de Lima.
Sa hiwalay na pahayag ng Akbayan Party, sinabi nito na inimbitahan din si Diokno na maging bahagi ng House prosecution team.
"As the principal endorser of the first impeachment complaint and after thorough party deliberations, we extend our full support to this historic process of accountability," ayon sa pahayag.
"Incoming Akbayan Representative Atty. Chel Diokno will join the House prosecution panel. Buong tapang na tinatanggap ng Akbayan ang bagong kabanata ng laban para sa katarungan at pananagutan," patuloy nito.
Ilang miyembro ng 11-man House Prosecutional Panel ang nabigong manalo sa katatapos lang na Eleksyon 2025.
Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Romualdez na makadadagdag sa "credibility, balance, and depth" sa isasagawang proseso ng impeachment kapag nakasama sa prosecution team sina de Lima at Diokno.
“Former Senator De Lima and Atty. Diokno are two of the most respected legal minds in the country. Their potential inclusion in the prosecution panel would add credibility, balance, and depth to this constitutionally mandated process,” ani Romualdez.
“They are not just veteran lawyers—they are public servants with a lifelong record of upholding the rule of law and protecting democratic institutions. Their involvement would be a valuable contribution to ensuring that the proceedings are fair, principled, and rooted in the public interest,” dagdag pa ng lider ng Kamara.
Ayon pa kay Romualdez, tungkulin nila sa bayan na makabuo ng pinakamahusay na prosecution team sa isasagawang impeachment trial na kahit magmula sa hanay ng oposisyon ang magiging bahagi nito.
"This is not about targeting individuals. This is about fulfilling our constitutional duty with integrity. The House is committed to presenting a case based solely on facts, evidence, and the rule of law," paliwanag niya.
"The Senate, as the impeachment court, deserves to hear a case presented with competence and credibility. The participation of figures like De Lima and Diokno will help ensure that," sabi ni Romualdez.
Ang Senado na magiging impeachment court ang magiging lugar sa gagawing paglilitis kay Duterte.
Nauna nang inihayag ni Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, na posibleng simulan ang impeachment trial ni Duterte sa July 30, na magiging bahagi na ng 20th Congress, at makakasama na ang mga bagong halal na 12 senador bilang mga senator judges. -- mula sa ulat nina Tina Panganiban Perez/Llanesca T. Panti/FRJ, GMA Integrated News
