House prosecutors prepared to hand over Duterte impeachment evidence to ombudsman

MANILA — The House prosecution panel has signaled its willingness to transfer evidence gathered during Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment proceedings to the ombudsman, provided a formal subpoena is issued first. Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, heading the prosecution team, indicated on Tuesday that the panel will comply promptly with any official request for the documentation.

The prosecutors have accumulated substantial materials throughout the impeachment trial, which centered on allegations against the Vice President. Rather than voluntarily releasing the files, however, Luistro emphasized that the team prefers to follow proper legal protocols by waiting for an official demand from the ombudsman's office.

The stance reflects standard prosecutorial procedure in handling sensitive case materials. By requiring a formal subpoena, the prosecution team ensures that the transfer of evidence adheres to established legal frameworks and maintains proper documentation of the handover process.

The ombudsman's potential investigation would represent a separate proceeding from the impeachment trial conducted by the House. The availability of the prosecution's evidence could prove significant to any independent inquiry into the Vice President's conduct, should such an investigation be initiated.