INCOMING party-list Reps. Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal) and Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno (Akbayan) have officially accepted the invitation to join the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate.
De Lima said Speaker Martin Romualdez has invited her to serve as a member of the prosecution panel, and “I have accepted.
“My decision comes from a place of duty and principle. I have always stood for truth, accountability, and the rule of law — across different administrations, regardless of political affiliation. That commitment remains unchanged,” she said.
De Lima made the statement as two of the 11 members of the prosecution team – Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon and General Santos City Rep. Loreto Acharon – are not expected to return in the 20th Congress after losing in the midterm elections.
Bongalon lost to former Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman in the congressional race for Albay’s first district, while Acharon was defeated by returning lawmaker Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles.
Another prosecutor, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, still has a chance to return to the Lower House as first nominee since his group is currently ranked 28th in the partial, unofficial election results.
Eight out of the 11 prosecution panel members are expected to return, namely, 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, the lead prosecutor; Reps. Romeo Acop of Antipolo, Joel Chua of Manila, Arnan Panaligan of Oriental Mindoro, Ysabel Zamora of San Juan, Gerville Luistro of Batangas, Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo, and Jonathan Keith Flores of Bukidnon.
In a separate statement, Akbayan party-list said it has also been invited by the House leadership to be part of the House prosecution team and it “courageously accepted a new chapter in the fight for justice and accountability.”
“As the principal endorser of the first impeachment complaint and after thorough party deliberations, we extend our full support to this historic process of accountability. Incoming Akbayan Rep. Atty. Chel Diokno will join the House prosecution panel,” it said.
Diokno, a private prosecutor in the impeachment trial of ousted former president Joseph Estrada in the late 2000, earlier expressed willingness to join the House of Representatives.
“Hindi naman ako nagpupumilit ng serbisyo. Pero willing, willing naman ako na maglingkod as a prosecution (I’m not forcing my services but I’m willing, willing to help the prosecution) and I have had some experience in impeachment cases,” he told Teleradyo last Tuesday.
Akbayan is expected to win three seats in the 20th Congress after leading the party-list race based on the partial and unofficial results of the canvassing.
Diokno, a human rights lawyer, said the impeachment trial should immediately begin after the election period since it is mandated by the Constitution, which states that “trial shall forthwith proceed.”
“Nakasulat na sa bato ‘yan e, dahil na-impeach na si Vice President Sara ng House of Representatives (It’s written in stone, because Vice President Sara was impeached by the House of Representatives),” he said.
Speaker Martin Romualdez welcomed the inclusion of Diokno and De Lima in the House prosecution panel, citing their “unquestioned legal expertise and deep commitment to justice.”
“Former Senator De Lima and Atty. Diokno are two of the most respected legal minds in the country. Their potential inclusion in the prosecution panel would add credibility, balance, and depth to this constitutionally mandated process,” he said.
“They are not just veteran lawyers — they are public servants with a lifelong record of upholding the rule of law and protecting democratic institutions. Their involvement would be a valuable contribution to ensuring that the proceedings are fair, principled, and rooted in the public interest,” he added.
Zambales Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun also welcomed the possibility of having Diokno and Leila De Lima and Diokno in the House prosecution panel, saying they will provide a “powerful reinforcement for the pursuit of justice.”
“With some prosecutors unable to continue in the 20th Congress, we welcome the possibility of including new members like former Sen. De Lima and Atty. Diokno in the prosecution panel,” Khonghun said. “They are both lawyers, both consistent defenders of human rights, and both long-time critics of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs — exactly the kind of voices we need to restore accountability.”
Khonghun said De Lima will fit in well, especially since she was a victim of Duterte’s injustices, having been jailed for her alleged ties to illegal drugs as justice secretary under the last Aquino administration, a crime which the court found she did not commit.
“De Lima endured years of unjust detention. Diokno has defended countless victims of abuse. Their presence would send a clear message: the House is serious about this impeachment,” he said.
The Articles of Impeachment, transmitted by the House to the Senate on the same day last February 5, accuses the Vice President of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption and other high crimes.
Among the specific acts cited by the complaint is the Vice President’s alleged illegal use of P612.5 million in confidential funds during her concurrent tenure as Vice President and as former education secretary.
The complaint cited the Vice President’s spending of P125 million in confidential funds in just 11 days in December 2022 and her use of confidential funds even if she does not have a mandate under the law to conduct intelligence or surveillance operations.
Duterte is also accused of approving the release of P112.5 million in confidential funds when she was the education secretary, with liquidation reports identifying supposed intelligence recipients with fictitious names.
Among the evidence against the Vice President is the Commission on Audit’s (COA) findings on the alleged fake recipients of her confidential funds, such as “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Jay Kamote,” and “Xiaome Ocho.”
