Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said that while Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team may raise any issue they find regarding the impeachment trial, any petition should not obstruct the trial, considering no temporary restraining order (TRO) or injunction has been issued by the High Court.

“Of course, it is the prerogative of the defense team to elevate any issue, which they believe consists of [a] constitutional question to the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, even if there are pending petitions in the Supreme Court, this should not hamper or delay the impeachment trial, especially considering that there is not temporary restraining order or injunction issued by the Supreme Court (SC) for that matter,” she said.

This came in response to a concern regarding the impeachment trial last year, wherein the senator-judges ruled to return the articles of impeachment to the lower chamber of Congress while awaiting the decision of the SC on a petition questioning the impeachment proceedings.

Luistro commended the Senate for convening at the earliest possible instance this time around.

“That’s why earlier I said, we commend the impeachment court, we are very much positive that they convened, pursuant to the mandate of the Constitution, that is ‘forthwith," she said.

However, the lawmaker stressed that not only is convening as an impeachment court to be done at the soonest possible time, but the trial itself shall proceed “forthwith.”

“Nonetheless, we are trying to solicit the support of our beloved countrymen that what is being mandated to be ‘forthwith,’ is not only the convening. What is being mandated to be ‘forthwith’ is the trial—and by trial, it means presentation of evidence, presentation of witness, and which will lead to the decision of the impeachment court of either acquittal or conviction,” Luistro said, adding that they look forward to definite pre-trial and trial dates as soon as Duterte’s camp submits a response to the charges against her and the prosecution, in turn, replies.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno concurred that the House prosecution team sees no hindrance to the pre-trial and trial of the case.

On Monday, the Senate impeachment court summoned Vice President Duterte and ordered her to file her answer within 10 days.