FORMER senator Leila de Lima and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno have accepted their appointments to the House prosecution panel for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
De Lima, first nominee of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist, confirmed her acceptance on May 14, saying her decision is rooted in “duty and principle.”
Diokno, the incoming Akbayan Partylist representative, also accepted the role, with Akbayan stating their full commitment to justice and accountability.
Both figures are part of the genuine opposition and previously ran under former Vice President Leni Robredo’s senatorial slate in 2022.
De Lima emphasized that her participation is not motivated by politics, but by a commitment to uphold public trust and the rule of law. A former CHR chair and DOJ secretary, she played a key role in investigating then-mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war in Davao.
The House impeached Duterte on Feb. 5, transmitting seven Articles of Impeachment to the Senate the same day. These include charges such as betrayal of public trust, bribery, corruption, and involvement in extrajudicial killings. The Senate is expected to begin the trial in July.
De Lima and Diokno will join several lawmakers on the panel, including Reps. Luistro, Zamora, Defensor, and others.
