Battle lines are slowly but surely being drawn in anticipation of the Senate impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.

On the part of the House of Representatives, Committee on Justice chairperson and prospective lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro said the chamber could potentially strengthen its legal team by tapping seasoned private litigators.

Luistro, a lawyer, says that a full trial setting calls for a specialized combination of legislative experience and active courtroom expertise to effectively present the impeachment case.

“Kung matutuloy man tayo to be (If ever I do become) one of the panel of prosecutors, I will really recommend that we engage private prosecutors to help and aid the members of the House who will be joining the panel of prosecutors,” Luistro, said in a radio interview Thursday, April 30.

“Definitely. As a matter of fact, itong mga kasama nating lawyers and even myself dito sa House of Representatives, hindi na kami updated about litigation. What will happen in the Senate is trial,” Luistro said.

(As a matter of fact, our fellow lawyers and even myself here in the House of Representatives are no longer updated about litigation.)

She noted that the defense team they would face would likely be made up of real litigation specialists. Thus, outside support for the House prosecution side would be both practical and essential.

“Under the rules, hindi naman ipinagbabawal kumuha ng private prosecutor (engaging private prosecutors aren't prohibited),” Luistro pointed out.

The justice panel chief went on to explain the formal structure of the prosecution side. “Under the rules, we should be 11 public prosecutors. Pero parang wala namang (But there seems to be no) prohibition if we want to consider a bigger number."

“About the private prosecutor, the rule is silent. So I guess it will depend on us and on the private lawyers who are willing to help the House of Representatives in the prosecution of this impeachment case,” Luistro added.

She said the team of House prosecutors would themselves be elected in plenary, much like other internal House positions.

“Parang nag-eelect ng committee chair, committee members. So this panel of prosecutors will be elected also in the plenary. Kung sino man itong 11 House members na ito who will be joining the panel of prosecutors by election,” said the Batangueña.

(It’s like electing a committee chair and committee members. So this panel of prosecutors will also be elected in the plenary. Whoever these 11 House members are, they will be joining the panel of prosecutors by election.)

At any rate, Luistro said that prosecution duties weren't on her mind yet. “As to whether or not I am willing to join the prosecution panel, hindi ko pa pinag-iisipan ‘yan (I'm not tninking about that yet),”

She says her immediate focus remains on wrapping up the committee’s work and defending its findings before the full House, where she expects a hard fight once the articles reach plenary.

“Medyo mabigat pa ang paparating na trabaho which is the approval of the committee report, the articles of impeachment. At pagdating dito siyempre sa floor, sa plenary, I’m anticipating a heated debate dito before we finally vote on whether to transmit or not these articles of impeachment,” Luistro noted.

(There is still heavy work ahead, which is the approval of the committee report and the articles of impeachment. And when this reaches the floor, the plenary, I am anticipating a heated debate before we finally vote on whether or not to transmit these articles of impeachment.)