House names Libanan to lead VP Sara impeachment trial

House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Representative Marcelino Libanan has been named lead prosecutor in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The announcement came from fellow House prosecutor and 1-Rider party-list Representative Rodge Gutierrez, who confirmed that a formal letter had been submitted to the Senate impeachment court. Signed by 11 House prosecutors, the letter authorized Libanan to oversee and execute key legal actions for the prosecution panel.

“In summary, we have instituted the Honorable Libanan, although it is not yet formal...in effect, this is what we call lead prosecutor,” Gutierrez said.

Libanan is a lawyer with extensive experience in governance and legal affairs. He previously chaired the House Committee on Justice and also served as a Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

On 5 February, the House of Representatives impeached Vice President Duterte after securing the required one-third vote threshold.

The impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of multiple serious offenses, including her death threats against the President, First Lady, and House Speaker; alleged misuse of confidential funds and fraudulent expenditures; unexplained wealth; and links to the notorious Davao Death Squad and her father’s bloody drug war. 

As mandated by the Philippine Constitution, the House of Representatives has the sole authority to initiate impeachment cases. Once a verified complaint receives the endorsement of at least one-third of House members, it automatically becomes the Articles of Impeachment, leading to a Senate trial.

With Congress currently in recess until 2 June 2025, further developments in the trial are expected once sessions resume.