58 private lawyers to assist House prosecution team

THE  PROSECUTORS

NIEL C. TUPAS JR. Prosecution panel head; member of Liberal Party (LP); 2nd-term representative of Iloilo’s 5th district; obtained his political science degree and bachelor of laws from University of the Philippines-Diliman. Will handle Article 1

JOSEPH EMILIO A. ABAYA Impeachment manager. On 3rd term as representative of Cavite’s 1st district; LP member; finished bachelor of science in electrical engineering at UP Diliman and juris doctor at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law

A total of 58 private lawyers have signed up to provide legal research and pointers to the 11-member House prosecution team in its bid to remove the most powerful man in the judiciary, Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, a member of the prosecution team, will be the team manager.

The prosecution team leader, Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., will be assisted by private lawyers Arthur D. Lim and Jose Justiniano.

Tupas’ group will handle the first impeachment article charging that Corona’s designation as head of the Supreme Court was a “midnight appointment” and accusing him of bias in favor of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Below are the other members of the prosecution team and the private lawyers who will advise them:

GIORGIDI B. AGGABAO 2nd-term representative of Isabela’s 4th district; member of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC); got commerce degree from De La Salle University; bachelor of laws from Ateneo; ex-president, Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Isabela. Will handle Articles 3, 5 and 8

Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas will be assisted by Augusto Panlilio, Justiniano and Gregorio Batiller.

RAUL A. DAZA Representative of Northern Samar’s 1st district; LP member; on defense panel during impeachment trial of ex-President Estrada; ex-governor of Northern Samar; got business administration degree from University of the East; bachelor of laws from UP. Will handle Articles 1 and 7

Akbayan Rep. Arlene J. Bag-ao will be assisted by Marlon Manuel, Magis Mendoza, Joeven Dellosa, Reagan de Guzman, Levy Ang, Jan Perry Eugenio, Peter Leo Mendiola, Marl Chester Ti and Jane Laarni Pichay.

Cibac Rep. Sherwin N. Tugna will be assisted by Esteban Y. Mendoza, Gilbert Viloria, Conrado Sarmiento and Michelle Ann Erum.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr. will be assisted by Pedro Aquino, Mario Valderrama, Jenny Vi Buslig and Henedino Brondial.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali will be assisted by Rex G. Rico, Renato Samonte Jr., Jose Luis Rey Munsayac, Manuel  M. Manuel, Max Banares Jr., Michael Millares, Ariel Radovan and Arjay Peralta.

Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza will be assisted by Harry  Roque Jr., Joel Butuyan, Roger  Rayel, Romel Bagares, Dexter Donne  Dizon, Allan Jones Lardizabal, Gilbert Andres, Federico Roxas II, Norma Singson-de Leon, Claro Mamaril and Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn  Primicias-Agabas will be assisted by Winston Ginez, Xerxes  Cortel, Clarence Jandoc, John  Roldan, Frederick Vallestero and Ernesto Viovicente.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri  Colmenares will be assisted by Vanessa Maguigad, Jovenio Evangelista, Cristina Yambot, Al Parreno, Emil Capulong, Cheryl Daytec, Janne Baterna and Ramon Te.

Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao will be assisted by Bodie Naval, Rosario Bautista, Daytec and Lauro Gacayan.

The lead private lawyer of the prosecution is Mario Bautista, managing partner of the Poblador Bautista and Reyes law office.

Sources: Inquirer Archives, Inquirer Research Archives, Congress.gov.ph, Liberalparty.ph, Cibac.org, judiciary.gov.ph, law.ateneo.edu, rmbsa.com, ustcivillaw.com,srmo-law.com, ibp.ph

Compiled by Inquirer Research

MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS On 1st term as representative of Pangasinan’s 6th district; NPC member; obtained her bachelor of laws from San Beda; former vice governor of Pangasinan. Will handle Article 2

ARLENE “KAKA” J. BAG-AO On first term as party-list representative for Akbayan; lead counsel for the Sumilao farmers; obtained her political science degree from La Salle and doctor of laws from Ateneo. Will handle Articles 3 and 4

SHERWIN N. TUGNA On 1st term as party-list representative for Cibac; obtained his commerce degree from University of Santo Tomas and doctor of laws from Ateneo. Will handle Articles 3 and 6

RODOLFO C. FARIÑAS Representative of Ilocos Norte’s 1st district; member of Nacionalista Party ; obtained his bachelor of laws from Ateneo; bar topnotcher; former governor of Ilocos Norte and mayor of Laoag. Will handle Article 6

ELPIDIO F. BARZAGA JR. 2nd-term representative of Dasmariñas, Cavite; member of National Unity Party; a CPA-lawyer, graduated from San Beda College in 1970; former mayor of Dasmariñas. Will handle Articles 2 and 5

REYNALDO V. UMALI 1st-term representative of Mindoro Oriental’s 2nd district; NPC member; ex-deputy commissioner, Bureau of Customs; got economics degree from Ateneo and bachelor of laws from San Beda and Manuel L. Quezon University. Will handle Articles 4 and 8

NERI J. COLMENARES On 2nd term as party-list representative for Bayan Muna; obtained economics degree from San Beda and bachelor of laws from UP; Bayan Muna general counsel since 1999. Will handle Articles 1 and 7