LIMANG kilalang abogado, kabilang ang dating tagapagsalita ng Korte Suprema, ang opisyal nang sumali sa House prosecution panel bilang private prosecutors para sa nalalapit na impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ayon kay ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, magsisilbi ring spokesperson at impeachment adviser ng prosecution panel si dating Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.
Ang limang 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,” ani 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 niya.
Nauna nang ipinakilala ng prosecution panel 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 bahagi ng kanilang defense-assisting team.
Si Atty. Te ay nagsilbing chief public information officer ng Korte Suprema mula 2013 hanggang 2018. Kilala siya sa kanyang karanasan sa human rights litigation, legal education at public communication. Siya rin ang interim chairperson ng Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) at assistant professor sa UP College of Law.
Samantala, si Atty. Robles ay founding at managing partner ng Chan Robles & Associates at kabilang sa Top 10 ng 1990 Bar Examinations, habang si Atty. Labay ay isang CPA-lawyer at senior partner ng parehong law firm na may malawak na karanasan sa Remedial at Civil Law.
Kasama rin sa bagong hanay si Atty. Divinagracia, managing partner ng Co Nazario Velasco-Catera and Divinagracia Law Offices, at si Atty. Tolosa Jr., founding partner ng Tolosa Lim & Chua Law Firm na may 17 taong karanasan sa litigation at kasalukuyang legal spokesperson ng prosecution panel.
Malaki rin ang inaasahang ambag ni Barbers sa estratehiya at komunikasyon ng prosecution panel, matapos ang kanyang naging papel bilang pinuno ng Quad Committee sa Kamara.
(TINA MENDOZA)
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