Iloilo Third District Representative Lorenz Defensor will be part of the House of Representatives’ prosecution team for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The House, which is dominated by allies of President Bongbong Marcos, voted to impeach Duterte during its last session on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
On the same day, the lower chamber of Congress selected 11 lawmakers, including Defensor, who will serve as prosecutors in the impeachment trial.
The prosecution panel will defend the House’s decision to impeach Duterte before the Senate, which will serve as an impeachment court.
In a radio interview, Defensor — a lawyer by profession — said it’s “an honor” for him to be selected as one of the prosecutors.
“Nalipay ako sa pagsalig kag kumpiyansa nga ginhatag sang liderato sang Kongreso sa akon, sa ila pagpili sa akon bilang isa sa prosecutors,” he said.
“Natural lang nga may pressure sa tanan nga desisyon kapin pa sa impeachment but you have to act on your constitutional duty nga kon pilion ka sang liderato sang Kongreso dapat sabton mo ang paghangkat,” Defensor further said.
The trial, according to Defensor, is a “chance for the Filipino people to see the evidence presented against the vice president.”
“Paghangkat ini nga mapakita naton sang husto ang ebidensya sa maayo nga paagi agud nga makumbinsi ang Senado nga may grounds for impeachment and may grounds to determine whether [Sara Duterte] is fit to continue serving as vice president of the Republic of the Philippines,” he said.
A total of 215 House members endorsed the impeachment of Duterte, the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, for alleged “betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and graft and corruption.”IMT
