Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro – Photo courtesy of Congresswoman Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro/Facebook.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro on Thursday announced the first batch of private prosecutors who would assist the House prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate.
Luistro said the lawyers would be helping on a voluntary basis as the House panel prepared to present evidence and arguments once the trial proper begins.
The initial list came from three law firms: Kapunan and Castillo Law, Pecabar Law, and SaLiGal Law.
Among those named were Lorna Patajo-Kapunan, Sonya Margarita Benemerito-Castillo, Deanna Melissa Lorenzo-Singian, Lino Chris Kapunan, Bettina Zamora, Marforth Fua, Erwin Matib, Justine Anne Lamarca, James Bryan Ibrahim Alih, and Amando Virgil Ligutan.
Luistro said the private lawyers joined because they supported transparency, accountability, and the constitutional process behind the impeachment trial.
She said more lawyers had expressed interest in helping the prosecution, although she could not yet give a final number or say how many would be introduced in later batches.
The House prosecution team is composed of lawyer-lawmakers, but private prosecutors were expected to help refine trial strategy, organize evidence, and strengthen courtroom presentation ahead of the scheduled July 6 start of trial.
Duterte faced impeachment allegations involving alleged misuse of Php 500 million in confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President and Php 112.5 million under the Department of Education, unexplained wealth, alleged payments to DepEd officials, and alleged threats against President Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and a former House speaker.