Prosecution names more lawyers for Sara Duterte impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel has introduced more volunteer lawyers who will serve as private prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

House prosecutors Reps. Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal party-list and Chel Diokno of Akbayan named four additional private prosecutors at a press briefing on Monday, June 29.

They are

• Theodore Te, interim chairperson of the Free Legal Assistance Group and former Supreme Court spokesperson;
• Reynaldo Robles, founding and managing partner of The Law Firm of Chan Robles and Associates;
• Arnold Labay, senior partner of the same law firm; and
• Mae Divinagracia, managing partner of CNDLAW.

Robles, Labay and Divinagracia were present at the briefing.

The lawyers said they volunteered their services to help pursue accountability in the impeachment process.

"We volunteered because we want to help out in the process of accountability ordained in the Constitution," Robles said.

'No absolute freedom'

The prosecutors also responded to Duterte's argument that her public remarks about allegedly having President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated were protected by freedom of speech.

"Freedom of speech is not absolute. There are limits to freedom of speech and of course we will leave it to the impeachment court to resolve the arguments made by the vice president," Diokno said.

Diokno said it would be better for Duterte herself to explain her free speech argument before the impeachment court.

As of June 29, there are 15 lawyers in the private prosecution panel for Duterte's impeachment trial.

The trial is set to begin on July 6. The pretrial order is expected to be released Monday.