De Lima, Diokno to join prosecution team in VP Sara Duterte's house trial

Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list nominee Leila de Lima and incoming Akbayan Representative Atty. Chel Diokno are set to join the House prosecution panel in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

De Lima confirmed that she has accepted House Speaker Martin Romualdez's invitation to be part of the prosecution team."The House Speaker has invited me to serve on the prosecution panel for the upcoming impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. I have accepted," De Lima said in a statement.

"My decision comes from a place of duty and principle. I have always stood for truth, accountability, and the rule of law – across different administrations, regardless of political affiliation. That commitment remains unchanged," she added.

In a separate statement, Akbayan announced that its top nominee, Atty. Chel Diokno, will also join the House prosecution panel.

House Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun welcomed their inclusion, saying, "They are both lawyers, both consistent defenders of human rights, and both long-time critics of former President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal war on drugs – exactly the kind of voices we need to restore accountability."

The impeachment case against Vice President Duterte centers on six major allegations, all linked to alleged violations of the 1987 Constitution, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and other applicable laws. According to the trial calendar released by Senate President Francis Escudero, proceedings are scheduled to begin on July 30, 2025.