Chel Diokno Attributes Composure in Impeachment Hearing to Decades of Litigation and Teaching

MANILA, Philippines — Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said his decades of experience in litigation and teaching law have helped him maintain his composure during the high-stakes impeachment trial discussions concerning Vice President Sara Duterte. In a press briefing on Tuesday, Diokno, a member of the House of Representatives prosecution panel, explained that his extensive experience arguing in various courts, including the Supreme Court, has been instrumental in his role in the impeachment court. Diokno, who previously made two unsuccessful bids for a Senate seat in 2019 and 2022, is a decorated human rights lawyer and former chairperson of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of the Philippines – Diliman and a Juris Doctor of Laws degree from Northern Illinois University. He was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1986 and in the Philippines in 1988, later becoming the founding dean of the De La Salle University (DLSU) College of Law. While admitting that standing for extended periods during oral arguments can be tiring, Diokno stated that his calm demeanor and clear presentation stem from his many years as a court practitioner and over two decades of teaching law. Social media has seen numerous memes praising Diokno for his well-thought-out answers and his ability to effectively present their position to senator-judges and counter defense arguments. Last Wednesday, the Senate Impeachment Court ruled in favor of the prosecution's request, ordering the issuance of a subpoena for the bank and tax records of Vice President Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, with exceptions for certain companies that showed no prima facie links to the Vice President. Diokno described the decision as a victory for the Filipino people and refuted the defense's claim of a "fishing expedition," emphasizing that the subpoena targeted specific documents rather than a general search for incriminating evidence. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo