House Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun on Wednesday welcomed the possibility of former Senator Leila De Lima and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno joining the House prosecution panel in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, calling it a “powerful reinforcement” for the pursuit of justice.
“With some prosecutors unable to continue in the 20th Congress, we welcome the possibility of including new members like former Sen. De Lima and Atty. Diokno in the prosecution panel,” said Khonghun, representative of Zambales’ first district.
“They are both lawyers, both consistent defenders of human rights, and both long-time critics of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs—exactly the kind of voices we need to restore accountability,” he added.
De Lima is set to return to Congress through Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list, while Diokno is poised to win a House seat as first nominee of Akbayan Party-list, which currently leads the party-list race.
Both groups are aligned with reformist and democratic coalitions that have openly supported efforts to hold the Duterte administration and its allies accountable.
“Kung tutuusin, walang mas angkop na makasama sa prosecution panel (If you think about it, there’s no one more suitable to be part of the prosecution panel). De Lima endured years of unjust detention. Diokno has defended countless victims of abuse. Their presence would send a clear message: the House is serious about this impeachment,” Khonghun added.
Vice President Duterte is facing trial before the Senate acting as an impeachment court on charges of misuse of confidential funds, falsification of documents, and culpable violation of the Constitution.
Khonghun maintained that the trial must push through with full transparency and determination.
“This is bigger than politics. This is about restoring the people’s faith in public institutions. And if leaders like incoming Reps. De Lima and Diokno are willing to help prosecute the case, the House should welcome them with open arms,” Khonghun said.
Diokno in a recent Teleradyo Serbisyo interview said he is open to the possibility of joining the House prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of VP Duterte.
“I’m not insisting on offering my services. But I’m very much willing to serve as a prosecution panel member, and I have had some experience in impeachment cases,” he said.
De Lima echoed similar thoughts in a separate interview with News5.
“I would always be willing, whatever role is available for me, I will take it with full integrity,” she said.