The House prosecution panel is nearly finished with its preparations for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with evidence and witness lineup almost complete, a lawmaker confirmed on Thursday.
According to House Assistant Majority Leader Raul Angelo “Jil” Bongalon of Ako Bicol party-list, the panel is about 90 to 95% ready. He said witnesses who had previously testified in House hearings on Duterte’s use of confidential funds—both in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education—are expected to take the stand.
“Ngayon, pinag-aaralan namin kung magdadagdag pa kami or kung enough na ‘yung mga taong ‘yun bilang aming testigo dito po sa impeachment case,” Bongalon said in an ABS-CBN News report.
The panel welcomed Senate President Francis Escudero’s directive for Senate offices to start preparing for the trial. While Escudero suggested convening the impeachment court in June and commencing proceedings on July 30, Bongalon expressed hope for an earlier start in March.
“It is a positive development… Probably they have realized the urgency as well as the responsibility, as enshrined in the Constitution,” he said.
Manila City 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, another member of the prosecution panel, said the Senate’s preparations affirm their commitment to upholding accountability in government.
Bongalon estimated that the trial could last two to three months and, if it starts in March, may conclude within the 19th Congress. However, with House members’ terms ending on June 30, the composition of the prosecution panel may change after the May elections.
A recent WR Numero survey conducted from February 10 to 18 showed that 47% of respondents opposed Duterte’s impeachment, while 33% supported it, and 20% were undecided. This contrasts with a Social Weather Stations survey two months earlier, where 41% favored impeachment, 35% opposed it, and 19% were undecided.
Bongalon downplayed the fluctuating public sentiment, emphasizing that the impeachment process is about ensuring accountability rather than a popularity contest.
“For me, it’s not about marami ang ayaw, marami ang gusto. It is a political process, a process for upholding transparency and accountability,” he said.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives released a video on its official Facebook page explaining the impeachment process and the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte. Bongalon said the initiative aims to educate the public on the legal grounds for the case.
“May mga technical matters doon na kailangan malaman din po ng taumbayan in plain and simple language,” he said, addressing concerns that the impeachment is merely political.
“Baka kasi sinasabi, ‘hindi, pulitika lang ‘yan’ o kaya ‘galit lang kayo sa vice president’. Hindi po ‘yun ang punto,” he added.
