Lawyers helping House impeach team ‘experienced,’ ‘angry’

HOT SEAT READIED Preparations continue at the Senate on Tuesday for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The historic trial may still be four months away, but the enclosure where she may be asked to sit during the proceedings has already been set up at the plenary hall. —RICHARD A. REYES

The House of Representatives has put together a group of “experienced” litigators, including volunteers “angry” with the vice president, to assist its 11-member prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco on Tuesday went to the Senate building in Pasay City to check the facilities for the trial.
Velasco confirmed that the law office founded by lawyer Nilo Divina would be part of the House impeachment team, along with other private law firms.

The House of Representatives has put together a group of “experienced” litigators to assist its 11-member prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said on Tuesday.

Velasco, who went to the Senate building in Pasay City to check the facilities for the trial, said many of private lawyers who offered to help the House team were volunteers “who are angry” with the Vice President.

“They are experienced (litigators) because you cannot tap those without experience in (proceedings) like this,” he told reporters.

Senate President Francis Escudero earlier said Duterte’s trial would likely start after the 20th Congress opens its regular session in July.

DivinaLaw

According to two Inquirer sources, DivinaLaw, one of the country’s top law firms, would be leading the group of private prosecutors.

Velasco on Tuesday confirmed that the law office founded by lawyer Nilo Divina would be part of the House impeachment team, along with other private law firms.

He said the House was expected to incur minimal expenses for the private legal team since the lawyers themselves had offered their services.

“I don’t think they will charge us their usual (legal) fees per hour because they are volunteers,” he added.

Tapped for experience

The House official declined to name them, but said some of the private lawyers had taken part in the two previous impeachment trials in the Senate.

The chamber held the impeachment trials of deposed President Joseph Estrada and the late Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2001 and 2012, respectively.

“Some of them were recruited because of their experience in court trial and in actual impeachment cases,” Velasco added. “We need to hire those with experience to guide the House prosecution team.”