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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Kahit walang bayad': Many private lawyers want crack at convicting VP Duterte, says Adiong

'Kahit walang bayad': Many private lawyers want crack at convicting VP Duterte, says Adiong

Published May 26, 2026 07:29 pm

At A Glance

  • Adiong reveals that many private lawyers have offered pro bono services to help the House prosecution panel convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial.
  • Strong legal interest reflects growing public attention to the constitutional issues, with some private practitioners already included in the prosecution team alongside 11 House members.
  • Panel prepares for trial through mock trials and strategy sessions, as Duterte faces charges of fund misuse, false asset declarations, unexplained wealth, and issuing death threats.
Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB, Facebook)
Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB, Facebook)



So enticing is the prospect of convicting impeachment trial respondent Vice President Sara Duterte that a lot of private lawyers are offering their services to the House prosecution team for free.
Thus, said House prosecution panel spokesperson Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Tuesday, May 26 during an online interview.
“There are a lot of lawyers, private lawyers that have come up and approached the House prosecution team to offer their services pro bono to be part of the team,” Adiong said.
He noted that the strong response from members of the legal community reflected growing public interest in the impeachment case and the constitutional issues surrounding it.
The Senate has already convened as an impeachment court and ordered Duterte to answer the articles of impeachment transmitted by the House of Representatives, with pre-trial proceedings expected to begin next month.
A major point of interest in the case are the identities of the private lawyers who would be tapped to team up with the 11 public prosecutor-House members.
Adiong bared that some private practitioners have already joined the prosecution team, although discussions on the final composition were still ongoing.
“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,” he said.
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).
“There will be some sort of evaluation… in order that they can actually decide and determine the number of private prosecutors that will be welcome and be included in their list of prosecutors,” noted Adiong.
He also shared that the prosecution panel has been busy with preparations for the trial proper. These include the holding of mock trials and strategy-forming sessions.
Vice President Duterte's conviction via impeachment trial is being sought over her offices' alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds; untruthful declarations in the filing of her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth; unexplained wealth; and death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.

Related Tags

Zia Alonto Adiong Impeachment Sara Duterte free impeachment trial Private prosecutors
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