House Prosecution Team for Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Still Unfinalized, Says Ridon

Key facts

• Rep. Terry Ridon said no formal discussions have occurred on the House prosecution team composition.
• Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, justice committee chair, floated a list of potential prosecutors.
• Possible prosecutors include Ysabel Zamora, Keith Flores, Joel Chua, Chel Diokno, Lordan Suan, Leila de Lima, and Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez.
• Only four of the original 11 prosecutors from the February 2025 attempt are likely to remain: Zamora, Flores, Chua, and Gutierrez.
• The Supreme Court declared the 2025 impeachment bid unconstitutional.
• Ridon expressed confidence the House has sufficient votes to impeach Duterte and transmit articles to the Senate.
• Ridon dismissed allegations of lawmakers being pressured or enticed with projects to support impeachment as 'diversionary'.

Lede: No Formal Talks Yet on Prosecution Team

The House of Representatives has not yet held any formal discussions on the composition of the prosecution team that will handle the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate.y Ridon. Speaking at a media forum on Saturday, Ridon said that while no official decisions have been made, Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, who chairs the House Committee on Justice, has already floated a list of potential prosecutors. The impeachment trial is anticipated to begin once the House plenary votes on the impeachment complaints and transmits them to the Senate.

Potential Prosecutors Named by Luistro

Ridon disclosed that Luistro’s proposed roster includes several lawmakers who served as prosecutors in the previous impeachment attempt against Duterte in February 2025, as well as new representatives who are lawyers. Among those named were San Juan City Representative Ysabel Zamora, Bukidnon Representative Keith Flores, Manila Representative Joel Chua, Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno, Cagayan de Oro City Representative Lordan Suan, and Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima. Ridon also noted that 1-Rider Representative Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, though not on Luistro’s list, had been previously identified by the committee chair as a potential prosecutor.

Continuity from Previous Impeachment Attempt

Of the 11 lawmakers who served as prosecutors in the failed February 2025 impeachment bid—which was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court—only four are likely to remain in the new lineup based on Luistro’s suggestions: Zamora, Flores, Chua, and Gutierrez. Ridon, a lawyer himself, indicated that the final list of House prosecutors is expected to be finalized once the House plenary proceeds to vote on the impeachment complaints. He expressed confidence that the House has sufficient numbers to impeach Duterte and transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

Ridon Dismisses Allegations of Pressure on Lawmakers

In the same forum, Ridon dismissed as “diversionary” allegations that lawmakers are being pressured or enticed with projects to back the impeachment of Vice President Duterte. He maintained that the House can impeach Duterte “on basis of evidence.” The House Committee on Justice had previously found probable cause to impeach the Vice President, setting the stage for the trial.

Background: Previous Impeachment Bid and Current Stakes

The previous impeachment attempt against Duterte in February 2025 was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, halting the process. The current impeachment effort comes amid heightened political tensions, with the Vice President facing allegations that have not been fully detailed in public. Ridon, a member of the House justice panel, said that all members of the committee are already deeply familiar with the case, stating, “I think lahat ng miyembro ng committee on justice, kahit nakapikit, kabisado na nila yung kabuuan ng kaso.” The impeachment trial is seen as a critical test for Philippine democracy.

Outlook: Next Steps in the Impeachment Process

The next procedural step is for the House plenary to vote on the impeachment complaints. If approved, the articles of impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate, which will then convene as an impeachment court. The composition of the House prosecution team will be finalized before the trial begins. Ridon’s remarks suggest that the process is moving forward despite the lack of formal discussions, with key figures already identified. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for the political landscape in the Philippines.

The bottom line

• No formal discussions have occurred on the House prosecution team for VP Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.
• Rep. Gerville Luistro has proposed a list of potential prosecutors, including several from the previous failed attempt.
• Only four of the original 11 prosecutors are expected to remain: Zamora, Flores, Chua, and Gutierrez.
• Ridon dismissed allegations of pressure on lawmakers as 'diversionary,' asserting the impeachment is evidence-based.
• The House is expected to vote on impeachment complaints soon, after which the Senate trial will commence.
• The Supreme Court had previously declared the 2025 impeachment bid unconstitutional, adding legal complexity.