Ortega: House prosecution building ‘teamplay’ with private lawyers for VP Duterte trial

DEPUTY Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union has said the House prosecution team is preparing for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte with individual assignments, group preparation, private lawyers and a communications setup meant to help the public understand the case beyond the legal battlefield.

Ortega, who is helping explain the impeachment case to local communities and media, said the prosecution panel knows the weight of the work ahead as it faces a defense team expected to bring legal experience, political pressure, and close public scrutiny into the Senate trial.

“Malaki ang magiging trabaho ng mga prosecutors. I think they’re preparing individually. May mga articles na hina-handle. May assignments na pong ganun,” Ortega said during an interview on the “Insiders” podcast hosted by former presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and former Akbayan Party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez.

The House prosecution panel is expected to argue the case transmitted by the House after lawmakers voted to impeach Duterte over allegations that include misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, and threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the first lady and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

“Siyempre, mabigat ang paghahandaan nila. Mabigat din ang defense team. Naghahanda po sila. Individually, I think they’re going to be preparing as a group as well,” Ortega said.

Ortega said the panel is taking the preparation seriously and is building the rhythm needed for a trial that will be fought both in the Senate and before the public.

The La Union House leader said the expected participation of private prosecutors will help because some of them already have working ties with members of the House team from the earlier impeachment effort, making coordination easier in a case where timing, message discipline and legal presentation will matter every day.

“So may jelling na rin before. Yeah, that helps a lot. Siyempre, teamplay yan eh. Hindi po basta-bastang task yung gagawin po nila,” Ortega said.

He expressed confidence that the prosecutors can handle the challenge, especially because the Committee on Justice and the prosecution team have already worked through months of hearings, criticism and public attacks that helped build familiarity among them.

“But I think they’re more than capable, pero kailangan po nila talaga maganda. I mean the Committee on Justice, saka ‘yung prosecution team. Hindi naman po dahil lang sa Justice ‘yan eh,” Ortega said.

For Ortega, the pressure surrounding the impeachment case has also strengthened the working relationship within the team, a point that may become important once the trial begins and both sides start presenting their case before senator-judges.

“Pero kung makikita nyo, may certain degree of closeness. Na parang may pagka-family vibes na rin. Kasi nga, siguro pag pare-pareho kayong nahi-hit, o naba-bash o naki-criticize, nagkakaroon ng medyo mas tumitibay na samahan,” Ortega said.

Ortega also said the House side is building its communications structure, with Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong and Atty. Renee Co among those helping explain the proceedings and respond to questions from the public and the media.

“Si Cong. Zia was recently announced as one of the spokes. As far as I know, parang hindi pa po na-identify ‘yun. Si Atty. Rene Co is also one of the spokes,” Ortega said.

Ortega said he will also help in the communications effort, particularly in making the impeachment discussion easier to understand for local audiences who want clarity on what the trial means for accountability, governance and the country’s political future.

“So I’ll be helping out,” Ortega said