02/09/2026
The House prosecution panel has decided to keep its 11-member team intact in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, dropping an earlier proposal for some prosecutors to resign and serve only as official spokespersons.
According to multiple reports, House prosecutor Joel Chua confirmed that both public and private prosecutors had discussed the possibility of resigning from their trial roles. The idea came after the Senate impeachment court imposed stricter rules limiting public comments that could affect the merits of the ongoing case.
Chua said the proposal was eventually set aside because changing the prosecution team at this stage could be difficult, especially as the panel is targeting roughly another month to complete the presentation of its witnesses and evidence. The prosecution instead plans to continue explaining procedural developments to the public while avoiding comments on disputed evidence or the merits of the case.
Under the impeachment court’s stricter sub judice rule, lawyers from both sides may face sanctions if their public statements improperly discuss matters that could influence the proceedings. The prosecution has said it will respect these restrictions while continuing to provide factual updates about the trial.
An impeachment trial is both a legal and constitutional process closely watched by the public. Transparency remains important, but so does respecting the rules of the court. In the end, the strongest arguments should be made through evidence and testimony inside the impeachment court, where both sides have the opportunity to be heard fairly.
