Luistro unfazed by who will preside over VP Sara impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — It would not matter whether acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, or even former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano presides over Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Luistro said the House prosecution panel has faith in the Senate’s accountability processes regardless of who serves as presiding officer.

READ: Luistro reveals first batch of private prosecutors for Duterte’s impeachment trial

The lead public prosecutor stressed that the impeachment proceedings are not about personalities but about holding public officials accountable.

“This is not a question of who is the presiding officer, who are the senator-judges, who are the public and the private prosecutors,” she said.

“Whether it is acting SP Win Gatchalian or Senator Chiz Escudero who will be presiding over the impeachment trial, on behalf of the prosecutors, we are expressing our faith and confidence in this accountability mechanism,” Luistro said, adding that the panel’s confidence extends even to Cayetano should he be designated to oversee the proceedings.

The Batangas solon explained that matters involving the past impeachment bid against Duterte, which became controversial because of Escudero’s definition of forthwith, follow a different set of circumstances.

READ: Past ties not a factor in backing Sara Duterte impeachment – lawyers

“To complete my statement , whether it is former SP Alan (Cayetano) or acting SP Win, or the one which you mentioned, Senator Chiz, we express our faith and confidence in accountability mechanisms,” Luistro explained.

“Let us not judge him (Escudero) on the basis of what happened to the first impeachment back in the 19th Congress,” she added.

Escudero was Senate president when the first impeachment complaint against Duterte reached the Senate in February 2025 after 215 lawmakers endorsed a fourth complaint, triggering the Constitution’s fast-track impeachment process.

Escudero previously faced criticism for delaying proceedings in Duterte’s first impeachment case, which some legal observers argued should have immediately proceeded under the Constitution’s “forthwith” provision.

READ: House gets notice of new date for reading of impeachment articles

The issue sparked debate among legal observers and lawmakers, including former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who questioned the delay.

READ: Did they change rules? Enrile says ‘forthwith’ easy to understand

Despite the controversy, the Supreme Court later ruled that the Articles of Impeachment were unconstitutional for violating the Constitution’s one-year bar rule.

Luistro maintained that the prosecution panel is prepared to proceed with the impeachment trial regardless of who ultimately presides over the proceedings.

Despite these calls, the Supreme Court last July 25, 2025, ruled that the Articles of Impeachment were unconstitutional for violating the 1987 Constitution’s one-year bar rule./dp