MANILA — House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will proceed as scheduled, rejecting efforts he claimed were aimed at undermining the credibility of the House prosecution panel.

In a media report, it said that Ridon issued the statement as pre-trial and trial dates for the impeachment proceedings draw nearer, with the Senate set to hold a pre-trial on June 15 and the first day of trial scheduled for July 6.

“Impeachment trial is coming,” Ridon said at a news forum in Quezon City.

“Hindi ho makakapigil ‘yun pong ganitong slander laban sa House prosecution panel sa pagtutuloy sa paglalantad ng katotohanan sa Senate impeachment court proceedings,” he added.

He said allegations being raised against members of the prosecution team were intended to weaken public confidence ahead of the formal trial.

“‘Yun po ‘yung malinaw sa bahagi po ng House prosecution panel. Talaga po ‘yung pagpupulong noong nakaraan ay targeted to discredit the House prosecution panel para paglunsad po ng trial, meron pong credibility questions hanging over the prosecution,” Ridon said.

The remarks came after former soldiers referred to as the “18 Marine-bagmen” resurfaced in a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on June 4, where they alleged that Ridon and other officials received suitcases allegedly containing payoffs from anomalous flood control projects.

Ridon and other members of the prosecution panel have questioned the timing and credibility of the allegations.

He also maintained that prosecutors would present evidence once the trial begins, including bank records and transactions flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

“Kahit ano pong ibato ng 18 marines at ng kung sino man ho na sumusuporta sa pangalawang pangulo, tuloy po impeachment trial. We will not be deterred,” Ridon said.

“The evidence will be presented on the bank accounts, on the [Anti-Money Laundering Council] transactions, on each and every piece of evidence needed to convict the Vice President,” he added.

The impeachment case against Vice President Duterte stems from allegations including misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, inaccuracies in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, unexplained wealth, and alleged death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Ridon denied any involvement in the alleged cash delivery scheme, saying his name did not appear in an earlier affidavit circulated by former soldiers.

“Halimbawa na lang po sa akin, noong [February] po lumabas ‘yung affidavit, pero ni minsan hindi po ako nabanggit sa listahan po na ‘yun. Ire-reiterate ko today, I was never mentioned in that affidavit at parang hinabol na lang ‘yung pong pangalan ko during that meeting with the 18 marines,” he said.

“Kahit kailan, kahit saang panahon, kahit saan mang lugar, wala po akong natanggap na maleta (At no time, in any period, or in any place have I ever received a suitcase),” he added.

Ridon said the accusations will not distract the prosecution panel from fulfilling its constitutional mandate to pursue the impeachment case.