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

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

During a press conference on March 25, 2025, Libanan emphasized the necessity of preventing harm if a public official acts against the public interest.

On the same day, 1-Rider party-list Representative Rodge Gutierrez, also serving as a House prosecutor, announced that the House prosecution panel had submitted a motion of summons to the Senate impeachment court, requesting Vice President Duterte to respond to the Articles of Impeachment filed against her.

The letter sent by the House prosecutors granted Libanan the authority to:

• Verify and execute petitions, motions, and pleadings on behalf of the House prosecution panel.

• Sign and submit legal documents as the prosecution’s representative.

• Carry out all necessary actions to implement these responsibilities.

“We have formally empowered the Honorable Marcelino C. Libanan, the most senior public prosecutor, to fulfill these duties on behalf of the prosecution team,” Gutierrez stated during the press briefing.

A seasoned lawyer, Libanan previously served as an Eastern Samar Representative (1998-2007), Eastern Samar Vice Governor (1992-1995), and a Bureau of Immigration Commissioner during the Arroyo administration.

In his first press conference as lead prosecutor, Libanan expressed confidence that the Senate would honor the constitutional mandate to begin the impeachment trial. He stressed that impeachment is crucial for preventing further harm, upholding the rule of law, maintaining public trust, and preserving institutional integrity.

Libanan urged the Senate to act promptly, believing that lawmakers would listen to the people's concerns.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero has scheduled the impeachment trial for July, citing the Senate’s break as the reason for the delay. However, both Libanan and Gutierrez contended that the Senate could convene as an impeachment court even outside regular sessions, as impeachment proceedings are a distinct constitutional process.

Gutierrez further noted that the prosecution’s submission of the motion of summons was part of the necessary preliminary steps, adding that the Senate had already signaled its readiness to prepare for the trial.

Source:https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/940471/vp-sara-duterte-impeachment-lead-prosecutor/story/