An impeachment prosecutor has called on the Senate to convene as an impeachment court and begin the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing the urgency of the proceedings.
House Deputy Majority Leader and impeachment prosecutor Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo’s 3rd district stressed that the Senate must act swiftly in response to public demand.
“Baka sakaling magbago ang isip ng Senado and masimulan natin nang mas maaga ang impeachment trial, mas mabuti,” Defensor said in a GMA News Online report. “Dapat magtrabaho na tayo, mga idol.”
Defensor also asserted that the impeachment trial should be a key election issue for senators. “Malaki ang clamor ng mga Pilipino na masimulan ‘yung impeachment trial. Ito ang ikakapanalo nila kung papanigan nila ang katotohanan,” he said.
While he declined to specify which article of impeachment he would handle, Defensor affirmed that all charges were strong. “Kung ako ‘yung papipiliin, it’s the one that I think will convict. I chose the one that will convict,” he stated, rating his confidence in a conviction at “10” on a scale of one to 10.
The House of Representatives impeached Vice President Duterte on February 5, with 215 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. An additional 25 congressmen later signed, bringing the total to 240. The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate on the same day.
Meanwhile, Defensor criticized former President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statements at a PDP-Laban rally, where the elder Duterte spoke about killing senators to ensure victory for his allies.
“Ngayon, marami kasi sila, ano’ng dapat gawin natin? Eh ‘di patayin natin ‘yung mga senador ngayon para mabakante,” Duterte said, adding that eliminating 15 senators would guarantee electoral success.
Defensor dismissed the remarks as part of a defense strategy for the Vice President’s impeachment trial. “Mind conditioning ‘yun para ma-normalize ang salitang pagpatay sa isip ng mga Pilipino,” he warned. “Kaya mag-ingat tayo, huwag tayo papaloko.”
He urged the Senate to stand firm and not allow itself to be undermined by such rhetoric.
