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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Secret muna': Luistro says House not yet ready to reveal private prosecutors in VP Duterte trial

'Secret muna': Luistro says House not yet ready to reveal private prosecutors in VP Duterte trial

Published Jun 1, 2026 03:25 pm

At A Glance

  • Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro confirmed that numerous private prosecutors will assist the House prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte's Senate impeachment trial, but withheld their identities as final assignments are still being determined.
  • Luistro revealed that private prosecutors will be divided into two groups, with some joining the trial directly and others supporting through legal research, all on a voluntary and pro bono basis.
  • The House prosecution panel, composed of 11 members led by Luistro, has already entered its appearance before the Senate impeachment court, which has ordered Duterte to respond to the transmitted articles of impeachment.
Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro (PPAB)
Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro (PPAB)


The identities of the private prosecutors who will be helping the House prosecution team attain a conviction against the impeached Vice President Sara Duterte remains a closely-guarded secret.
Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro, head of the public prosecutors from the House of Representatives, was asked for names during a press conference Monday, June 1 but kindly declined to answer.
"Please bear will us as we cannot announce yet the list of our private prosecutors as we still continue to assess who will be joining the trial and who will be joining the preparation of the private prosecutors," Luistro said.
The lawyer-solon was asked roughly a month away from the expected Senate impeachment trial
What she confirmed was that that private prosecutors would be split into two teams, which gave the public an idea of just how many of them were willing to work with the House members.
"As I have said before, we have more than enough private prosecutors. Only that we are not yet done finalizing as to who will be entering their appearance as private prosecutors and who will be working as part of our legal and research team," Luistro said.
Last week, Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, a spokesman of the House prosecution panel, said that a lot of private prosecutors expressed their desire to work with the panel "pro bono", or free of charge.
“There are some private prosecutors that have already been decided to take part and be active, meaning to say they are now included as part of the prosecution team,” Adiong said.
Luistro said: "Yes, we have in fact a huge number of private prosecutors."
"All of them are on a voluntary basis. And that is why we are grateful, we are thankful to all these private lawyers who are really offering help to the public prosecutors," added the Committee on Justice chairperson.
The Senate has already convened as an impeachment court and ordered Duterte to answer the articles of impeachment transmitted by the House of Representatives.
The House prosecution panel is composed of House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro (Batangas 2nd district), Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro Party-list), Rodge Gutierrez (1-Rider Party-list), Ysabel Maria Zamora (San Juan City lone district), Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo 3rd district), Chel Diokno (Akbayan Party-list), Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal Party-list), Arlene Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands lone district), Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon 2nd district), Lordan Suan (Cagayan de Oro City 1st district), and Joel Chua (Manila 3rd district).

Related Tags

Private prosecutors IMPEACHMENT Sara Duterte Gerville \"Jinky Bitrics\" Luistro Zia Alonto Adiong
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