Duterte impeachment trial: Prosec, defense teams enter appearance

MANILA, Philippines — Almost two hours into the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, the House prosecution panel and the defense team on Monday entered their appearances.

For the House prosecution, a total of 25 members were entered, but lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro said it has submitted 26 names to the impeachment court.

Of the 25, 11 are members of the House prosecution, while the remaining 15 are counsels for the public prosecutors.

READ: Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial commences

Joining Luistro are the following 10 House prosecutors, all with legal backgrounds, as the Batangas representative highlighted:

• Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon
• 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez
• ⁠San Juan Lone District Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora
• ⁠Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor
•  ⁠Akbayan Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno
• ⁠ ⁠ML Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima
• ⁠ ⁠Dinagat Island Lone District Rep. Kaka Bag-Ao
• ⁠ ⁠Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores
• ⁠ ⁠Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan
• ⁠ ⁠Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua

Meanwhile, the private prosecutors who entered their appearance on the stand are –

• Lorna Patajo‑Kapunan
• Amando Virgil Ligutan
• Mae Divinagracia
• Lino Kapunan
• Sonya Margarita Benemerito-Castillo
• Deanna Melissa Lorenzo‑Singian
• Marforth Fua
• Erwin Matib
• Justine Anne Lamarca
• James Bryan Ibrahim Alih
• Reynaldo Robles
• Bettina Zamora
• Theodore Te
• Benjamin Tolosa Jr.

Also joining the 14 in the span of the trial is Arnold Labay who was not present on the first day, and the reason for this was not disclosed.

READ: Sara Duterte to skip impeachment trial’s first day – defense

Across the witness stand, Duterte’s defense team was likewise ordered to enter their appearance.

Duterte’s lead counsel Sheila Sison was the first to enter her appearance, followed by 14 of her colleagues.

Appearing as members of Duterte’s defense team are:

• Gregorio Narvasa II
• Kristine Ferrer
• Michael Poa
• Carlo Joaquin Narvasa
• Justin Nicol Gular
• Mark Vinluan
• Lindon Miguel Bacquel
• David Ronell Golla VII
• Karol Grace Oroceo
• Clarlain Radoc
• Francesca Marie Flores
• Miguel Carlos Fernandez
• Ralph Bodota
• Roberto Batungbacal

After the entering of appearances, the court opened the floor for the opening statements of each camp. /apl