Impeach trial workspace to boost case prep efficiency -lawmaker

MANILA – A dedicated workspace in the Senate for the prosecution team of the House of Representatives would improve efficiency in preparing for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, a House leader said on Monday.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua, a member of the House prosecution team and chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, said having a workspace within the Senate building for the legal team and support staff would be crucial for legal research, documentation, and coordination throughout the impeachment process.
"Well sa ngayon, nanduduon pa lang po kami sa pagre-request ng kuwarto para at least maging work area po nung magiging team natin para tuloy-tuloy po ang ating preparasyon at para siyempre ma-familiarize na rin doon sa area (Right now, we are in the process of requesting a room to serve as our team's work area so we can continue our preparations and, of course, familiarize ourselves with the area)," he said in a press conference.
Chua highlighted the role of the House secretariat in organizing and verifying documentary evidence, including financial records, to support the impeachment complaint.
"'Yung trabaho po ng staff namin, nung secretariat, ay para mapabilis po 'yung aming mga trabaho (The work of our staff and the secretariat is to speed up our tasks)," he added.
With the impeachment process now moving forward, Chua assured that the prosecution team is preparing for the Senate trial and making sure that all pieces of evidence are properly examined and presented.
The House prosecution panel awaits the Senate's decision on the workspace request.
A formal request for a workspace within the Senate was made by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco in a letter dated March 5, 2025 and addressed to Senate President Francis Escudero.
The letter, written on behalf of the House Public Prosecution Panel, asked for the assignment of a work and holding area for the Public Prosecutors and the House Secretariat Support Group (SSG) for the duration of the impeachment trial.
Velasco also requested an ocular inspection of the assigned room on March 11, 2025 to assess how it would be set up to ensure a comfortable and convenient working environment for the prosecution team.
The letter was officially received by the Senate President’s office on March 6.
A copy of the letter was released to the media over the weekend. (PNA)

(2025/03/10-10:22)