ILOILO — Third District’s Cong. Lorenz “Nonoy” Defensor has been designated lead prosecutor for one of the most explosive articles in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio — the charge accusing her of culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust over her alleged public threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Defensor was appointed by House prosecution panel head and House Committee on Justice chairperson Gerville Luistro.
Duterte-Carpio publicly claimed she had contracted an assassin to kill the three should something happen to her.
Former senator and Liberal Party-list’s Cong. Leila de Lima was named second lead prosecutor for the same article.
Defensor, the lone representative from Western Visayas in the 11-member prosecution panel, said he would continue serving all his constituents regardless of their position on the impeachment proceedings.
“Kung may taga-Iloilo na hindi pabor sa impeachment at hindi pabor na naging prosecutor ako sa impeachment na ito, paglilingkuran ko pa rin sila habang congressman nila ako. Magkasundo man kami o hindi sa impeachment,” Defensor said.
The Iloilo congressman expressed confidence in the strength of the House’s evidence against Duterte.
“We are very confident in the evidence that we have. We have been prepared since last year and with a vote of confidence of 257 members of Congress and the evidence being very obvious and very clear. It speaks for itself,” Defensor said.
“We have witnesses to present and we are certain once the evidence is presented in the Senate impeachment court, we can secure a conviction even for this article alone,” he added.
The House prosecution panel is composed of lawyer-lawmakers and veteran litigators from both the majority and minority blocs, several of whom previously took part in high-profile impeachment proceedings and congressional investigations.
The Senate formally convened as an impeachment court on May 18, one week after the House impeached Duterte-Carpio by a vote of 257-25, with nine abstentions.
Luistro welcomed the Senate’s action but stressed that the Constitution requires not only the convening of the impeachment court but also the immediate conduct of the trial itself.
“We commend the action of the Senate of the Philippines for responding to the mandate of the Constitution. Nevertheless, let us be reminded that what is mandated to be forthwith is not only the convening. The trial is mandated to the forthwith,” she said.
The impeachment court has ordered the issuance of a writ of summons to Duterte-Carpio, giving her 10 calendar days from receipt to answer the articles of impeachment.
Trial schedules are expected to be finalized after her response./PN
