Vice President Sara Duterte speaks during a press conference at her office in Manila on December 11, 2024. Philippine lawmakers on February 5 voted to send articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate, a day before the current congressional session was set to end. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Several private lawyers are interested in helping in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, lawmakers said on Thursday.
They expressed interest during the House of Representatives impeachment secretariat鈥檚 meeting on Wednesday.
Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V and Manila Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr. confirmed and gave details concerning the meeting during a press conference on Thursday.
鈥淭here were some prosecutors and volunteer lawyers who wanted to be part of the impeachment process,鈥� Ortega said in Filipino.
Dionisio said the attendance of the private lawyers indicates a possible collaboration in the trial, but he admitted that 鈥渘othing is concrete鈥� as of this moment.
Ortega said private lawyers are allowed to assist in impeachment cases, but he聽clarified that the meeting was informal, adding that House Speaker Martin Romualdez likewise attended the meeting to back the impeachment efforts.
He also said that not all members of the prosecution team were present during the meeting since some were either out of the country or campaigning.
On February 5, the House impeached Duterte.
Before this, three complaints were filed against Duterte in December, alleging that she had misused millions of pesos in confidential funds and 鈥渢ried to cover up鈥� how the money was spent when pressed to explain.