Tolosa: New prosecution member in VP Duterte trial is top litigator

MANILA, Philippines — Top litigator Benjamin S. Tolosa Jr., a founding and managing partner of Tolosa Lim & Chua Law Firm, has joined the private prosecution team in the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and will serve as the team’s legal spokesperson.

Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, chair of the House committee on justice, made the announcement on Monday at a media briefing, saying: “We would like to introduce, of course, our legal spokesperson. He is one of the assisting councils and, of course, another abogado de campanilia. To my right, of course, is attorney Benjamin S. Tulosa Jr. As legal spokesperson, he will be speaking on behalf of the prosecution team, particularly with respect to the developments that are happening in the proceedings of the impeachment trial.”

“Attorney Jay Tolosa is not only a legal spokesperson. Soon, he will be entering his appearance as well as one of the private prosecutors. So indeed, he will be participating actively in the trial,” she added.

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Luistro thanked the prosecution panel for welcoming him to the team, saying: “As we all know, the impeachment is a pivotal constitutional proceeding. In fact, it’s one of the most important accountability mechanisms for public officials under the Constitution. So as a trial lawyer, I found it to be a meaningful opportunity to place my experience in the service of that process.”

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“The main purpose, I guess, for me is — since I will be actively participating in the trial as well and I’ll be inside the courtroom — if there are quick updates that I need to communicate to the public and answer questions that you may have, I’ll be available and provide that information to you.”

Earlier, the House prosecution panel appointed Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co to serve as its spokespersons.

“So for now, as mentioned by Cong. Jinky, I will focus on acting as a spokesperson. But of course, the main spokesperson will still be Congressmen Adiong and Co,” Tolosa said.

Credentials

According to a statement released by his law firm, Tolosa also heads the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice, leading more than 25 lawyers who handle complex and high-stakes disputes in civil, criminal, administrative and regulatory proceedings.

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Tolosa has more than 17 years of relevant litigation experience in trial courts, appellate courts, administrative agencies, and quasi-judicial bodies.

The major cases he has handled involved financial crimes, intra-corporate controversies, antitrust, constitutional law, torts, heinous crimes, and contractual disputes.

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He has represented C-suite executives, industry leaders, and high-ranking public officials, including senators, Cabinet members, and local executives.

Tolosa has also handled cases for clients across key industries such as petroleum, construction, energy, telecommunications, water, tollways, banking, aviation, tobacco, and broadcasting.

Recommended lawyer

Tolosa has been consistently recognized by Asia Law Profiles and Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a recommended lawyer and key partner for litigation and dispute resolution.

Under his leadership, Tolosa Lim & Chua Law Firm has been recognized by Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Asia Law Profiles, Benchmark Litigation, Asian Legal Business and ALB’s Philippine Law Awards.

Before founding Tolosa Lim & Chua Law Firm, he practiced law as a senior associate at ACCRALAW, where he represented major corporations, senior executives, and public officials in complex and high-value disputes.

Tolosa has also been awarded the Outstanding Thomasian Award by the University of Santo Tomas Law Alumni Foundation Inc.

Tolosa earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Santo Tomas, where he ranked seventh in a class of 145 graduates, and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2009.

Other prosecution members

Earlier, the prosecution announced the appointment of 10 private prosecutors who will assist the House prosecution panel.

From Kapunan and Castillo Law:

Lorna Patajo-Kapunan

Sonya Margarita Benemerito-Castillo

Deanna Melissa S. Lorenzo-Singian

Lino Chris P. Kapunan

Bettina N. Zamora

From Pecabar Law

Marforth T. Fua

Erwin G. Matib

Justine Anne L. Lamarca

James Bryan Ibrahim A. Alih

From Sapayan Lim Alvarez Ligutan (SALiGAL):

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Amando Virgil D. Ligutan

The Senate impeachment court is currently conducting pretrial proceedings to mark evidence, settle procedural matters, and prepare the case for trial. /atm