Who are the 5 new private prosecutors for VP Sara Duterte's impeachment trial?

The House prosecution panel has added five more private prosecutors to its roster less than a week before the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte begins on July 6.

The five new additions bring to 15 the total number of private prosecutors assisting the House prosecution team in its bid to secure a conviction against Duterte, a widely popular political figure who has already declared her presidential bid for 2028.

The five seasoned litigators are:

1. Atty. Mae Divinagracia

Divinagracia, who served as legal counsel for the late Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, earned her Bachelor of Science in Legal Management, with a minor in Marketing, from Ateneo de Manila University in 2003.

She obtained her Juris Doctor from the Ateneo School of Law in 2007.

She has been a professional lecturer at Ateneo de Naga University since 2019 and at Ateneo de Manila University College of Law since 2018.

Divinagracia has also served as managing partner of Co Nazario Velasco-Catera and Divinagracia Law (CNDLAW) since 2015.

Her previous roles include serving as a professional lecturer at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Law from 2013 to 2024 and as senior associate at the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department of Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz Law Offices (ACCRA LAW) from 2007 to 2013.

The House prosecution briefer described Divinagracia as an expert in commercial, civil, and criminal litigation, arbitration, product liability, and corporate law.

2. Atty. Arnold Labay

Labay earned his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Lyceum of the Philippines University and his Bachelor of Laws from Far Eastern University.

He is currently a senior partner at Chan Robles and Associates, a position he has held since 2023. Before that, he served as managing partner and litigation lawyer at Labay Madamba Piccio Law Offices (LAMP) from 1997 to 2023.

Labay also taught law at New Era University from 2016 to 2022 and authored the book Persons and Family Relations.

He earlier worked as an associate lawyer at Chan Robles and Associates from 1996 to 1997 and taught at St. Joseph College and Colegio de San Lorenzo during the same period.

3. Atty. Reynaldo Robles

Robles, who served as counsel for Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, earned his Bachelor of Laws from Far Eastern University in 1990.

He graduated cum laude and class valedictorian and placed 10th in the 1990 Bar examinations.

Before becoming a lawyer, Robles obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Management, with a minor in Economics, from the University of the Philippines in 1986.

He is the founding and managing partner of Chan Robles & Associates since 1993 and also served as trustee and legal counsel of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute.

Robles also taught criminal, administrative, and election law, along with special proceedings, at the Far Eastern University Institute of Law from 1991 to 1994 and again from 2000 to 2002.

4. Atty. Theodore Te

Te previously served as chief of the Public Information Office of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 2013 to 2018 and as spokesperson of the High Court from 2017 to 2019.

He earned his Master of Laws from Columbia University, his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines, and his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the same university.

Te is also the interim chairperson of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), the country’s oldest network of human rights lawyers, and a full-time faculty member at the University of the Philippines with the rank of assistant professor.

He has litigated at all court levels, including death penalty and anti-terrorism cases. He has also represented journalists in libel and cyberlibel suits and trained journalists and non-government organizations on protection against nuisance suits and red-tagging.

5. Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr.

Tolosa, who was earlier announced as one of the House prosecution team’s spokespersons, earned his Bachelor of Arts in Legal Management and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Santo Tomas in 2003 and 2008, respectively.

He is the founding and managing partner and head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice of Tolosa Lim & Chua Law Firm, where he leads a team of more than 25 lawyers handling complex and high-stakes disputes.

Tolosa is also a recipient of the Outstanding Thomasian Award from the University of Santo Tomas Law Alumni Foundation, Inc.

He previously held in-house legal positions, including as legal counsel for the Philippine affiliate of a Fortune Global 500 multinational corporation and as general counsel of a regional conglomerate engaged in the retail and distribution of premium global brands.

He also served as a senior associate at ACCRA Law.

House prosecutor Chel Diokno said the addition of private prosecutors does not reflect any lack of capability on the part of the House prosecution panel, but rather the complexity of the case.

“The prosecution’s job is like building a house. It has the burden to establish the basis for the charges. For the defense, their duty is to demolish that house. Building a house requires planning and a lot of work,” Diokno said during a press conference where the five new prosecutors were introduced.

“You need contractors, carpenters, and many others. Demolishing a house is easier. You only need a wrecking crew," Diokno said.

"So for those saying the prosecution is getting more lawyers because it is unprepared, that is not true. The prosecution and defense simply have very different jobs,” he added.— MCG, GMA News