Unang batch ng private prosecutors para sa VP Sara trial, inilabas na

SAMPUNG abogado mula sa tatlong nangungunang law firms sa bansa ang magsisilbing private prosecutors sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.

Ang unang batch ng private prosecutors, na ipinakilala ni lead prosecutor at House Committee on Justice Chair Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, ay mula sa PECABAR Law, Kapunan and Castillo Law Offices, at SALiGAL Law.

Kasama sa mga sasali sa prosecution ay sina Marforth Fua, managing partner ng PECABAR Law at dating assistant presidential legal counsel sa ilalim ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.; veteran litigator Lorna Kapunan, founder and senior partner ng Kapunan and Castillo Law Offices; at Amando Virgil Ligutan, managing partner ng Cebu-based SALiGAL (Sapayan Lim Alvarez & Ligutan) Law at senior lecturer sa University of the Philippines College of Law.

Kasali rin sa legal team sina PECABAR partners Erwin Matib at Justin Anne Lamarca at senior associate James Bryan Ibrahim Alih, Kapunan and Castillo senior partner Sonya Margarita Benemerito-Castillo, junior partner Deanna Melissa Lorenzo-Singian, co-managing partner Bettina Zamora, at Atty. Lino Chris Kapunan.

Sinabi ni Luistro na ang dagdag na private prosecutors ay magpapalakas sa paghahanda ng prosecution team para sa impeachment proceedings.

“We are more confident than before because of the presence of the private prosecutors,” ani Luistro.

Ang mga abogado ay may kanya-kanyang kadalubhasaan sa criminal prosecution, graft and corruption cases, white-collar crime, labor law, environmental law, family law, taxation, commercial litigation, at dispute resolution.

“Today is a very important day for the country because finally, we will be introducing the first batch of the private prosecutors who will be assisting the House prosecutors. By first batch, it means that there will be subsequent batches,” pahayag ni Luistro.

Ayon pa kay Luistro, nagboluntaryo ang mga nasabing abogado ng kanilang serbisyo o pro bono at tutulung sa pagprepara sa mga saksi, ebidensiya, pleadings at iba pang legal requirements para sa pagdinig sa Senate impeachment court.

“We solicited the help of private lawyers who are willing to be with us on this cause on a voluntary basis. Mas kilala sa tawag na pro bono, o para mas maintindihan pa ng ating mga kababayan, ibig sabihin libre, walang bayad,” paliwananag ni Luistro.

Sinabi naman ni House prosecutor at Akbayan Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno na ang pagsali ng private lawyers ay makakatulong sa prosecution team na ma-navigate ang matinding trabaho para sa preparasyon at presentasyon ng impeachment case.

“Hindi po madali ang trabaho ng isang prosecutor. Maraming kailangang gawin in terms of witnesses, in terms of evidence, exhibits, making sure that all the evidence we present is admitted by the court. It’s not exactly simple or easy. Kaya we really appreciate the help of our private prosecutors,” added the lawyer,” ani Diokno.

Iginiit naman nina Luistro at Diokno na ang mga private prosecutors ay tutulong lamang at mananatili sa ilalim ng direksyon at supervision ng House prosecution panel.

“I want to make it clear that the lead and the one in control of the trial will still be the House prosecutors. In other words, ang mga private prosecutors po na makakasama ng House prosecutors will be assisting prosecutors. And pursuant to the rules, they will remain under the direct control and supervision of the House prosecutors,” paliwanag ni Luistro. (Vina de Guzman)