House prosecution panel files entry of appearance for Sara Duterte impeachment trial

The House prosecution panel on Monday afternoon formally entered its appearance before the Senate impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil personally filed the three-page “Formal Entry of Appearance” before the Senate impeachment court on behalf of the 11 prosecutors elected by the lower chamber.

The pleading named House Committee on Justice chairperson Gerville Luistro as the lead public prosecutor.

“The undersigned members of the House of Representatives, duly elected by the House of Representatives as members of the prosecution panel, respectfully enter their appearance as Public Prosecutors,” the document read.

“It is, thus, respectfully requested that, henceforth, all copies of all pleadings, resolutions, decisions, notices, and other processes of this Honorable Court be furnished to the Lead Public Prosecutor, Representative Gerville R. Luistro,” the document added.

Aside from Luistro, the other members of the House prosecutor panel are Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Zamora, Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene Bag-ao, Bukidnon 2nd district Jonathan Keith Flores, Cagayan de Oro 1st district Rep. Lordan Suan, and Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua.

The Senate on Monday convened as an impeachment court for the trial of Duterte over allegations of culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.

Donning maroon robes, senators took their oath as judges days after receiving the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives.

The impeachment court directed the Vice President to file an answer within a non-extendible period of ten calendar days from receipt and will be ordered to appear before the Senate "upon notice." –NB, GMA News