House prosecution panel member expects Senate tensions won't affect VP Sara impeachment

A member of the House prosecution panel in the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday said he is expecting that the recent tensions at the Senate would not affect the impeachment process and trial.

"Inaasahan natin na hindi magbabago ang kanilang pagtingin at hindi maapektuhan ang proseso... Ito ay kanilang constitutional mandate," Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(We are expecting that their views would not change and the process would not be affected... This is their constitutional mandate.)

"Inaasahan naman din natin na ang ating bagong Senate president, bilang isang abogado ay mataas ang kanyang paggalang sa ating Konstitusyon," he added.

(We are also expecting our new Senate president, being a lawyer, has a high respect for the Constitution.)

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday said the Senate may convene as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18 or "at the possible soonest time" following their receipt of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.

"The Secretariat has been directed to include the Articles of Impeachment in the calendar for ordinary business for referral to the impeachment court, which shall be convened on May 18, 2026, 3 p.m. or at the possible soonest time absent any question to the rules and procedure related to the transmitted Articles," read the letter Cayetano wrote to House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy.

The 11-member House prosecution panel will be physically present for the scheduled convening of the Senate impeachment court on Monday, Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon, himself a member of the prosecution team, said.

Chua said the House prosecution panel will have a meeting at 10 a.m. on Monday to finalize their attendance at the Senate.

"Kami sa ngayon ay naghati-hati ng articles kung saan kami mag-a-appear at magdedepensa... Nasa proseso kami ng pagbe-vetting ng mga private prosecutor na tutulong sa amin," he said.

(For now, we divided the articles for which we will enter an appearance and defend... We are in the process of vetting the private prosecutors who will assist us.)

"Pinag-uusapan din namin ang mga possible na legal obstacles na puwede naming kaharapin," Chua added.

(We are also discussing the possible legal obstacles that we might face.)

The House of Representatives on Monday, May 11, impeached Duterte on allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.

Amid tensions at the Senate premises on Wednesday night brought about by a shooting incident and lockdown, the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte arrived at the upper chamber.

Asked how she felt about the House’s vote to impeach her, the Vice President on Tuesday said: “Wala akong feelings about the impeachment (I have no feelings about the impeachment).” She said she is letting her lawyers handle the matter. —KG, GMA News