The House prosecution panel on Monday formally entered its appearance before the Senate Impeachment Court and declared it was ready to proceed with the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Lead prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro introduced the House panel before the impeachment court, presided over by Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
“We are 11 House prosecutors and 15 private prosecutors … We are ready, Your Honor,” Luistro told the court.
Escudero then directed the House prosecutors and the lawyers assisting them to individually enter their appearances for the record.
Aside from Luistro, the House panel includes Akbayan Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor, Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo “Rodge” Gutierrez, and Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan.
The House prosecutors are being assisted by 15 lawyers under their direct control and supervision.
Fourteen counsel personally entered their appearances before the impeachment court: Attys. Lorna Kapunan, Armando Virgilio Ligutan, Mae Divinagracia, Sonya Margarita Castillo, Lino Chris Kapunan, Deanne Melissa Lorenzo-Singian, Marforth Fua, Erwin Matib, Justine Anne Lamarca, James Bryan Ibrahim Alih, Reynaldo Robles, Bettina Nepomuceno Zamora, Theodore Te, and Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr.
During the proceedings, Escudero clarified the proper terminology under the Senate Rules on Impeachment.
He said the House members should be referred to as the “panel of prosecutors of the House of Representatives,” while the private lawyers assisting them should be called “counsel for the prosecutors.”
After the roll call, Escudero asked Luistro to confirm the number of prosecutors and counsel appearing for the House.
Luistro said only 14 counsel personally entered their appearances during Monday’s proceedings, but all 15 had already filed written entries of appearance with the impeachment court.
She said the House assembled a larger legal team because the four Articles of Impeachment would be handled by separate prosecution teams.
“The Articles of Impeachment will be presented by four separate teams, Your Honor. That explains why the panel of prosecutors is joined by 15 counsel for the prosecutors,” Luistro said.