By Lane Afable, News Editor
The prosecution panel will abide by the position of the House of Representatives under Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III recognizing acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, making clear that it will follow notices, orders, and proceedings issued under his leadership in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
The position is consistent with Speaker Dy’s statement last week welcoming Gatchalian’s assumption of the role of Acting Senate President.
Speaking on behalf of the House of Representatives, Dy underscored the importance of “a fully functioning Senate” and expressed confidence that, under Gatchalian’s stewardship, the chamber would “continue to discharge its constitutional duties with integrity, independence, and dedication to the public interest.”
Lead prosecutor and House Committee on Justice Chair Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said the 11-member prosecution panel represents the House institution and is therefore bound by its official position.
“Please understand kami pong 11 prosecutors ay bahagi ng House of Representatives. As a matter of fact, we are representing the institution,” Luistro said during a press briefing.
She noted that the concurrent resolution adjourning Congress sine die included a Senate resolution adopted under the leadership of acting Senate President Gatchalian.
“We have to understand that when we adjourned sine die, it was done by way of a concurrent resolution. One from the House of Representatives and one from the Senate,” Luistro said.
“The resolution, which came from the Senate as part of the concurrent resolution, was through the leadership of acting SP Win Gatchalian.”
Luistro said the prosecution panel would recognize notices, orders and proceedings issued under Gatchalian’s leadership.
“If the position of the House of Representatives is in favor of the legitimacy of the leadership of acting SP Gatchalian then it follows na doon din po kami susunod in as far as notices and orders are concerned. At doon din po kami mag-a-appear sa notices of proceedings na ilalabas nila,” she said.
Asked what would happen if rival Senate factions issued conflicting notices related to the impeachment proceedings, Luistro reiterated that the prosecutors would stand by the House position.
“Basta ang sigurado kung anong posisyon ng institusyon, ‘yun ang posisyon ng House of Representatives, again ng 11 prosecutors,” she said.
“If the House of Representatives already recognized the leadership of acting SP Win Gatchalian, it follows that the 11 prosecutors will be appearing before the impeachment court under the leadership of acting Win Gatchalian.”
Luistro also expressed confidence that questions surrounding the Senate leadership would not derail the impeachment proceedings, stressing that the Constitution leaves no room for delay.
“I have expressed my faith and confidence already to the present leadership in the same way that I expressed the same faith and confidence to the former leadership during their time,” she said.
“Remember that this is a constitutional duty, this is not a question sino ba ang Senate President, sino ba ang presiding officer, sino ba ang clerk of court. This is a question of proceeding, to trying the case and rendering judgement afterwards.”
“What the Constitution mandates is very simple and clear – ‘Trial forthwith,’ it does not mention about personalities or position, and after trial forthwith, judgement which is either conviction or acquittal.”
