Former senator Leila de Lima and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno have agreed to serve on the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
De Lima, representing the ML Partylist, confirmed she accepted the offer following a call from House Speaker Martin Romualdez. “I’ve always stood for truth and accountability—this is just a continuation of that work,” she said.
Diokno, the first nominee of Akbayan Partylist, will also join the panel. Akbayan said it supports this “historic process of accountability,” having initiated the impeachment complaint.
Both party-lists secured seats in Congress in the 2025 midterm elections—Akbayan, the top vote-getter, will have three seats, while ML is projected to secure one.
Speaker Romualdez endorsed their inclusion, praising their “unquestioned legal expertise and commitment to justice,” and emphasizing the House’s goal of presenting a fact-based case with legal integrity.
“Their involvement ensures fairness and reinforces the public’s trust in this constitutional process,” he said.
The Senate will convene as an impeachment court to try the case against Vice President Duterte once the proceedings formally begin.