The House of Representatives plenary must approve the authorization to be submitted by the new House Prosecutors, the Senate Impeachment Court Spokesperson, Atty. Reginald Tongol said.
On Thursday, July 3, RH Raymund Dadpaas reported that the Senate Impeachment Court is requiring the House Prosecution team to submit all legal requirements on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Tongol emphasized that the authorization of the House Prosecutors should not just come from House Speaker Martin Romualdez if he retains Speakership in the 20th Congress.
The former stated that all institutions are considered as a collegial body—like the House of Representatives—where such cases require a majority of the members’ approval.
“The question should be asked again: How will that election or authorization of the House Prosecutors happen? Paano sila ma-authorize? In what kind of actions? [Would it be] just a letter from the Speaker, or is it a formal authorization coming from the plenary of Congress itself?” Tongol queried.
“Wala naman tayong question na gagawin ‘yon at naniniwala naman tayo sa kakayanan ng House of Representatives at sinabi rin naman ng Speaker of the House na they will comply,” he added.
Meanwhile, Akbayan Partylist Representative Chel Diokno and ML Partylist Representative Leila de Lima are expected to join the House Prosecution team as the 20th Congress convenes.
