Concerns over litigation readiness within the House of Representatives have prompted calls to bring in external legal help if an impeachment court is eventually convened to try Vice President Sara Duterte.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro raised the proposal Thursday, acknowledging that many lawmakers on the House panel — herself included — have not been active in courtroom litigation and may lack the specialized experience that impeachment proceedings demand.
“The lawyers with us here in the House of Representatives, including myself, are no longer updated when it comes to litigation,” she told DZMM radio.
Luistro said existing rules do not appear to explicitly bar the prosecution panel from enlisting private counsel. “About the private prosecutor, the rule is silent… it will depend on us and on the private lawyers who are willing to help the House of Representatives in the prosecution of this impeachment case,” she said.
The House Justice Committee moved the process forward Wednesday after unanimously finding probable cause in the complaints against Duterte, clearing the way for the drafting of a committee report and articles of impeachment ahead of a full chamber vote.
Duterte faces several serious accusations, among them the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds released to her office and to the Department of Education during her tenure as its secretary. Other complaints filed in February allege she accumulated wealth beyond what she declared, worked to destabilize the government, and plotted the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Luistro named several legislators she believes could serve on the prosecution panel, including party-list Reps. Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal, Chel Diokno of Akbayan, and Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro, as well as Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan.
Under existing rules, the House prosecution team is composed of 11 members, though Luistro noted there may be room to expand that number. “Under the rules, we should be 11 public prosecutors,” she said. “But there seems to be no prohibition if we want to consider a bigger number.”
Should she be included in the panel, she said she would push for private legal reinforcement. “If I become part of the panel of prosecutors, I will strongly recommend that we engage private prosecutors to help and support the members of the House who will be joining the panel.”
