House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro of Batangas opened the prosecution’s case in the Senate impeachment trial by saying public power belongs to the Filipino people, and those who receive it must answer to them.

In her opening statement, Luistro said the trial matters because it involves public money, public trust and the people’s right to demand accountability from officials they placed in power.

“Ang usapin ngayon ay patungkol sa isang bagay na pag-aari nilang lahat. Ang kanilang pera, ang kanilang tiwala, ang kanilang karapatan na maningil ng pananagutan mula sa mga pinuno na kanilang pinagkatiwalaan (The issue at hand pertains to a thing owned by everybody. Their money, their trust, their right to demand accountability from the leaders they trusted).”

She noted how ordinary public servants are required to explain the use of funds and the discharge of public duties.

The same standard, she said, must apply to the highest officials.

“If a barangay treasurer must account for public funds, then so must the vice president,” Luistro said.

Luistro said impeachment is not a weapon for political revenge, but a constitutional safeguard for the Republic.

“(It is) not to punish political opponents, not to settle political scores, but to protect the Republic itself,” Luistro said, framing the core issue of impeachment as a question of democratic accountability.

“When the people entrust power to a public official, does the public official remain accountable to the people or do the people become accountable to the public official?” she said.

She answered by invoking the Constitution’s principle of popular sovereignty: “Power belongs to the people.”

Luistro said the case asks whether accountability still has meaning when the official involved holds one of the highest positions in government.

Look At Evidence, Witnesses, Records

She then asked the Senate Impeachment Court to decide the case against Duterte based on evidence, records and witness testimony, not politics, popularity, fear, or loyalty.

The prosecution, she said, would present a case grounded on official records, financial documents, government reports, video recordings, sworn statements and independent findings.

“Evidence, hindi chismis, hindi haka-haka, hindi propaganda at lalong hindi socmed narrative (not rumor, not speculation, not propaganda and especially not social media narrative),” Luistro said.

She described the prosecution’s evidence as material that should be tested in court, not dismissed through political noise.

“Mga dokumento na hindi bumoboto. Mga records na walang partido (Documents that do not vote. Records that have no party),” she added.

She urged senator-judges to follow the evidence where it leads.

“Look at the evidence. Listen to the witnesses. Examine the records,” Luistro said, urging the court not be swayed by political pressure.

“Judge this case not by politics, not by popularity, not by fear, not by loyalty,” Luistro said.

The lead prosecutor said the prosecution is ready to present evidence on confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and corruption and threats against constitutional order (PNA)