The House of Representatives has formed an Impeachment Secretariat to provide technical and administrative support to public prosecutors handling Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial even as some lawmakers express irritation over delays in the process.
This was outlined in Memorandum Order No. 19-1006 (SG) dated February 27, issued by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.
“The House Secretariat plays a vital role in ensuring the orderly conduct of legislative proceedings, including impeachment trials. This directive ensures that the prosecution team has access to essential logistical, research, and documentation support to facilitate a smooth and efficient trial process,” Velasco said.
The Impeachment Secretariat will be composed of personnel from key House departments, including the Office of the Secretary-General, Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Legislative Operations Department, Legal Affairs Department, and other relevant units.
Their functions will include plenary support, legal research, records management, stenographic transcription, information technology, security, and administrative coordination.
Velasco emphasized the assigned personnel will adhere to strict House rules and ethical guidelines, ensuring transparency and professionalism throughout the process.
“This is a routine function aligned with our constitutional duty. The House Secretariat remains neutral and professional in fulfilling its mandate,” he added.
It was explained that House personnel assigned to the Senate will record their attendance through the designated HousePass monitoring system, and their schedules will be managed by their respective offices.
“As the impeachment process moves forward, the Impeachment Secretariat will continue to provide the necessary support to uphold the integrity of the proceedings,” Velasco explained.
Meanwhile, a member of the 11- man House prosecution panel warned that further delaying Duterte’s impeachment trial could result in the tampering of evidence and intimidation of witnesses, potentially weakening the case.
During a press briefing, Manila Rep. Joel Chua was asked to respond to the timeline set by Senate President Francis Escudero which would have the impeachment trial begin on June 2, or into the 20th Congress’ term.
The lawmaker emphasized that House prosecutors want the trial to begin as soon as possible to preserve the integrity of the evidence and ensure that key witnesses remain willing to testify.
“Well, of course, we respect our Senate President, but we want to do it [impeachment trial] right away because looking at the evidence that we have gathered… it involves tampering of evidence,” he said in Filipino.
“Second, our witnesses, of course we know that maybe later, if it takes a while, some witnesses may develop jitters as the process drags on,” the Manila solon added Earlier this week, Escudero released a proposed impeachment trial calendar, indicating that the Senate would resume session on June 2, convene as an impeachment court on June 3, and begin the trial on July 30, nearly five months after the House transmitted the articles of impeachment.
However, Chua emphasized that despite the upcoming elections, members of the House prosecution panel remain committed to fulfilling their role in the impeachment process.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “SC: Media accreditation rules should not limit press freedom”