Most House impeachment prosecutors keep post

Eight out of the 11 members of the House prosecution panel tasked with pursuing the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte are set to retain their seats in Congress after the 12 May elections — keeping the core of the team intact as the high-stakes trial looms. But not everyone made it.

General Santos Rep. Loreto Acharon and Ako Bicol Rep. Angelo Bongalon both lost their reelection bids, while 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Ramon Gutierrez is in danger of missing the cut.

Gutierrez’s group secured just 0.93 percent of the partylist vote — well below the 2 percent threshold typically required to win a seat in the House.

Under the law, however, groups that don’t meet the threshold may still be awarded seats as part of the 20 percent allocation reserved for partylist representatives, depending on how many slots are unfilled. That means Gutierrez still has a slim — but possible — path back to Congress.

Acharon was defeated by returning lawmaker Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles, who ran under Lakas-CMD. Bañas secured a dominant 163,511 votes, nearly doubling Acharon’s 92,771.

Bongalon, meanwhile, was unseated by Krisel Lagman, daughter of the late Albay congressman Edcel Lagman, in the Ako Bicol regional race. Krisel garnered 36,451 votes, while Bongalon ended with 27,326.

The remaining members of the House prosecution panel all held strong in their races.

Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Arnan Panaligan ran unopposed and are assured of reelection with 131,925 and 191,043 votes, respectively.

4Ps Rep. Marcelino Libanan is also returning, after his partylist secured a staggering 1.2 million votes, or 3.50 percent of the national partylist total — enough for at least one seat and potentially more.

In Iloilo, Rep. Lorenz Defensor won in a landslide with 162,687 votes against his lone opponent, Thelma Langusta, who only managed 2,237.

In Bukidnon, Rep. Keith Flores received 134,175 votes, soundly defeating challenger Bernardo Mendoza, who got just 26,419.

In Batangas’ 2nd District, Rep. Gerville Luistro held off a challenge from returning lawmaker Ranie Abu, winning 86,167 votes to Abu’s 54,156.

In Manila’s 3rd District, Joel Chua edged out rookie challenger Apple Nieto with 42,219 votes, narrowly ahead of Nieto’s 40,976.

San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora secured a clear victory over her sole challenger Jana Ejercito, earning 33,775 votes compared to Ejercito’s 16,869.