By Lane Afable, News Editor
House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list on Thursday welcomed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s announcement that the Senate will formally convene as an impeachment court on May 18.
Ridon is among the 11 lawmakers formally elected by the House of Representatives as members of the prosecution panel that will present the articles of impeachment and evidence against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate.
“Nagpapasalamat po ang House Prosecution Panel sa pagbanggit po ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano na iku-convene na po ang Senate Impeachment Court laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte sa darating na May 18 (The House Prosecution Panel is thankful for the announcement of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to convene the Senate Impeachment Court against Vice President Durterte this coming May 18),” he said in a statement.
“Maaasahan din po na ‘yon pong kabuuan ng House Prosecution Panel ay magpupunta rin po dito po sa araw na ito para saksihan ‘yon pong pag-convene ng Senate Impeachment Court (Be assured that the whole House Prosecution Panel will be there to witness the convening of the Senate Impeachment Court),” he added.
Under the Constitution, the Senate is mandated to forthwith convene as an impeachment court once the House transmits the articles of impeachment.
The House formally transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate on Wednesday night, just two days after 257 lawmakers voted to impeach Duterte in a landslide decision, with 25 voting against and nine abstaining.
The 11-member prosecution team is composed of lawyer-lawmakers, veteran litigators, former prosecutors, and senior House leaders from both the majority and minority blocs.
Aside from Ridon, the panel includes Reps. Joel Chua (Manila 3rd District), Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal Party-list), Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro (Batangas 2nd District), Chel Diokno (Akbayan Party-list), Ysabel Maria Zamora (San Juan City), Lordan Suan (Cagayan de Oro City 1st District), Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon 2nd District), Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo 3rd District), Rodge Gutierrez (1-Rider Party-list), and Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands).
House leaders earlier described the prosecution team as a “powerhouse” panel assembled to uphold the Constitution and present the impeachment case with professionalism and respect for due process.
The Articles of Impeachment charges Duterte of alleged misuse of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery involving DepEd officials, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
