MANILA, Philippines – Limang abogado kabilang ang dating tagapagsalita ng Korte Suprema, ang opisyal nang sumama sa House prosecution panel upang magsilbing private prosecutors sa nalalapit na impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte, ayon kay House prosecution team member ML Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima.
Magsisilbi din na spokesman at impeachment adviser si dating Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.
Ayon kay de Lima ang 5 bagong private prosecutors ay sina Atty. Theodore O. Te, Atty. Reynaldo B. Robles, Atty. Arnold H. Labay, Atty. Mae S. Divinagracia, at Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr.
“We welcome these seasoned lawyers because their experience will help the prosecution present its case clearly, responsibly and with the seriousness that the Filipino people deserve.” pahayag ni de Lima.
“This impeachment trial is not an ordinary legal engagement; it is a constitutional proceeding where preparation, discipline and fidelity to the evidence matter deeply,” dagdag pa nito.
Una nang pinangalanan ng panel ang mga abugadong sina Atty. Lorna Kapunan, Atty. Marforth Fua, Atty. James Alih, Atty. Erwin Matib, Atty. Justine Lamarca, Atty. Sonya Benemerito-Castillo, Atty. Deanna Lorenzo-Singian, Atty. Bettina Zamora, at Atty. Amando Ligutan Saligal bilang mga miyembro ng kanilang defense-assisting team.
Si Te ay nagsilbi bilang chief public information officer ng Korte Suprema mula 2013 hanggang 2018. Kilala si Te sa kanyang malawak na karanasan sa human rights litigation, legal education, at public communication. Siya rin ang interim chairperson ng Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) at kasalukuyang assistant professor sa UP College of Law.
Si Atty. Reynaldo Robles, ang founding at managing partner ng Chan Robles & Associates na pumwesto sa Top 10 noong 1990 Bar examinations, at si Atty. Arnold Labay, isang CPA-lawyer at senior partner sa parehong law firm na may malawak na karanasan sa Remedial at Civil Law.
Kasama rin si Atty. Mae Divinagracia, ang managing partner ng Co Nazario Velasco-Catera and Divinagracia Law Offices na may karanasan sa commercial at criminal litigation, gayundin si Atty. Jay Tolosa Jr., ang founding partner ng Tolosa Lim & Chua Law Firm na may 17 taong karanasan sa litigation at kasalukuyan ding tumatayong legal spokesperson ng prosecution panel.
Samantala, malaking ambag naman sa estratehiya at komunikasyon si Barbers, na naging kilalang pinuno ng Quad Committee sa Kamara. Gail Mendoza
