House Justice Committee Vice Chairperson Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora said there is no reason for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to be derailed by the recent change in Senate leadership, stressing that the upper chamber must still fulfill its constitutional duty to proceed with the case.

In an interview on DZRH’s “Dos Por Dos” on Monday morning, Zamora said the House prosecution panel believes there may be a connection between the articles of impeachment passed by the House and the Senate leadership “coup” that took place on May 11.

“As prosecutors, paniwala namin na may kinalaman ito sa impeachment, maski ano pa pong sabihin ng ating mga senador,” Zamora said.

“Kami lang naman ay umaasa na maski may change in leadership, matutuloy ang trial dahil the Senate is the only body which has jurisdiction over the trial of the Vice President. So sana po ay gawin nila ngayon ang duty nila under the Constitution,” she added.

Zamora expressed confidence that senators would still evaluate the evidence presented by the House prosecution panel, saying the public has already seen the basis of the case during committee hearings.

She added that the outcome of the trial will ultimately be judged by the public, which is closely monitoring the proceedings.

“Kami naman ay again umaasa that the senators will see the evidence dahil alam namin na yung taong bayan nakita yung ebidensya na inilatag doon po sa Committee on Justice,” she said.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has earlier assured that the chamber would act “forthwith” on the impeachment complaint.

Zamora welcomed Cayetano’s role as presiding officer of the impeachment court, noting his legal background.

“Mabuti po na naiintindihan din ang legal processes, legal proceedings sa trial. Itong trial nito ay napakahalaga, napaka-importante,” she said.

The Senate is set to convene today, May 18, as an impeachment court in connection with the cases filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.