Sixteen lawyers defending Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial
Vice President Sara Duterte has 16 lawyers to defend her in her impeachment trial, as her defense team officially entered its appearance before the impeachment court. From Inquirer Files
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has 16 lawyers defending her, with her defense team officially entering its appearance before the Senate impeachment court on Monday.
Senate impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol shared copies of the document indicating the formal entry of Duterte’s lawyers, which was submitted to the Senate impeachment court at 5:03 p.m.
It was received by the Secretary of the Senate, who is acting as the impeachment clerk of court.
According to the document, lawyers from the Fortun Narvasa & Salazar law firm will defend Duterte.
“As of 5:03 pm, the Senate Impeachment Court through the Secretary of the Senate acting as Clerk of Court received the Appearance – Ad Cautelam from the law firm of Fortun Narvasa & Salazar to appear and act as counsel for Vice President Sara Z. Duterte dated June 16, 2025,” the Senate Impeachment Court stated.
“The House of Representatives was indicated in page 3 to have been copy furnished as well today at 3:42 pm, but has a note ‘Tender Copy refuse to receive’,” it added.
The Vice President’s lawyers are the following:
- Philip Sigfried Fortun
- Gregorio Narvasa
- Sheila Sison
- Carlo Joaquin Narvasa
- Roberto Batungbacal
- Justin Nicol Gular
- Lindon Miguel Bacquel
- David Ronell Golla VII
- Maria Selena Golda Fortun
- Claraine Radoc
- Francesca Marie Flores
- Miguel Carlos Fernandez
- Michael Wesley Poa
- Reynold Munsayac
- Mark Vinluan
- Ralph Bodota
Last June 11, the Senate impeachment court sent out the writ of summons, which gave the vice president 10 days to reply to the articles of impeachment sent by the House to the Senate last February 5.
Duterte was impeached last February 5, after 215 House lawmakers filed and signed a fourth complaint against her on allegations she misused confidential funds within the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, among others.
READ: House impeaches VP Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate
Duterte was also accused of issuing threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez in the impeachment complaint.
The following are the articles of impeachment sent by the House:
Article I: Betrayal of public trust, commission of high crimes due to her threats to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
Article II: Betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption due to misuse of CFs within the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP)
Article III: Betrayal of public trust and bribery within the DepEd
Article IV: Violation of the 1987 Constitution and betrayal of public trust due to unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets
Article V: Commission of high crimes, due to involvement in extrajudicial killings in the drug war
Article VI: Betrayal of public trust due to alleged destabilization plots and high crimes of sedition and insurrection
Article VII: Betrayal of acts due to her unbecoming conduct as Vice President
After several concerns about whether the trial would proceed, the Senate convened as an impeachment court last June 10. However, 18 senator-judges voted in favor of the motion introduced by Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano, which effectively sends back the articles of impeachment against the Vice President to the House.
The senator-judges sought the remand of the impeachment articles on two issues: for one, whether the articles of impeachment did not violate the Constitutional provision stating that only one impeachment complaint can be initiated against an impeachable official and for another, that the articles do not step on the jurisdiction and authority of the 20th Congress./coa
