Catholic clergy pray for House prosecutors ahead of VP’s trial

“FULFILLMENT” Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, head of the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, talks about the task ahead during the Mass held for the panel in Quezon City on Thursday. —Photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — Catholic clergymen blessed members of the House prosecution team during a Mass on Thursday, offering prayers of encouragement for lawmakers embarking on the high-stakes impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte that could reshape the country’s political landscape.

In a somber ceremony ahead of the trial that will start on Monday, Msgr. Mel David urged prosecutors to find strength in their pursuit of corruption and other charges that have hounded the nation’s second-highest official who has already announced her intention to seek the presidency in 2028.

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“In this task and responsibility, we recognize that lawmakers and private prosecutors need to have courage … [and] the strength to carry the burden of the whole Filipino people searching for the truth and for the right path that we’ll take in the future,” David said. “The whole Filipino people is looking up to you.”

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The Mass, held at a chapel of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Quezon City with around a hundred churchgoers—including some of the impeachment complainants—sought to inspire the prosecution team. David urged prosecutors to expose the truth behind the allegations of wrongdoing that had fueled efforts to remove Duterte from office.

The honor and the glory

“In presenting the truth, I do believe that many of our senator-judges will be convinced and vote for the truth,” David said.

Duterte, 48, was indicted by the House on charges that she misused confidential funds, amassed unexplained wealth and threatened to have President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated in the event she, herself, were killed.

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Impeached twice in her four years in office, Duterte has repeatedly sidestepped those accusations and instead questioned how her case has been handled so far, and claimed the charges were politically motivated.

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The members of the prosecution panel who attended the Mass included Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, the lead prosecutor, Representatives Leila de Lima, Lorenz Defensor, Joel Chua, Ysabel Maria Zamora and Kaka Bag-ao. They were joined by volunteer private prosecutors Lorna Kapunan and Marforth Fua.

‘Trial of the century’

Addressing the congregation, Luistro said the prosecutors were honored to present the impeachment charges against Duterte. She said “there is glory in defending the interests of the Filipino people” and in performing the duty of exacting accountability.

“There is honor to be at the forefront of this accountability mechanism,” Luistro added. “There is fulfillment to be at the forefront in upholding what the Constitution mandates.”

Speaking to reporters after the Mass, Kapunan described Duterte’s impeachment case as the “trial of the century” that would captivate the public.

“I hope this trial of the century will not last a century,” she said.

The Senate impeachment court has allotted 62 trial dates for the prosecution and 30 for the defense.

Lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr., the legal spokesperson for the prosecution team, said that prosecutors decided not to submit a comment on the Senate impeachment court’s pretrial order to prevent any potential delay in the start of the trial on July 6.

“We are very much ready,” Luistro told reporters after the Mass. “We have been preparing since the 19th Congress.”

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“And I can honestly tell the Filipino people that both the House prosecutors and the private prosecutors are ready as we begin the impeachment trial on July 6.” /cb