Duterte names his legal team in canvassing of votes by Congress

PRESUMPTIVE President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has formed a nine-man legal team led by lawyers Vitaliano Aguirre and Salvador Panelo to represent him in the national canvassing to be conducted by the Senate and House of Representatives tomorrow.

Duterte wrote separate letters to Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. informing them of the legal team that would represent his party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and its ally, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

Aguirre, the incoming justice secretary, will head the PDP-Laban legal team composed of incoming executive secretary Bingbong Medialdea, former Arroyo-era justice secretary Alberto Agra, incoming solicitor general Jose Calida, and  Loreto Ata, a member of the Duterte transition team.

Panelo, the incoming presidential spokesperson, will lead the LDP contingent made up of  Inocencio Ferrer Jr., former Arroyo finance undersecretary and  former legal counsel of first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo; Demaree JB Raval, a former lawyer of then presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. and LDP secretary general and counsel, and Rudyard Avila, author of a book on elections.

Panelo and Aguirre are set to meet today  before the Senate and the House open their joint session as the National Board of Canvassers on May 24. The start of canvassing is on May 25, with the proclamation of the winners to follow soon after.

Ferrer said: “The meeting is meant to avoid the spectacle of previous national canvass proceedings  before the joint session where lawyers claiming  to represent the same candidate try to outdo each other, oftentimes contradicting each other, mindful of the media coverage that appearing for a candidate could bring to the lawyers.” Gil Cabacungan

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