16 lawyers to defend VP Sara in impeachment trial

A team of sixteen lawyers is set to represent Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial, as stated in a document filed with the Senate impeachment court.

In a press release issued Monday night, the impeachment court said it received the Appearance Ad Cautelam from the law firm Fortun Narvasa & Salazar at 5:03 p.m. that day.

The lawyers who will represent Duterte in the impeachment trial are Philip Sigfrid Fortun, Gregorio Narvasa II, Sheila Sison, Lindon Miguel Bacquel, David Ronell Golla VII, Maria Selena Golda Fortun, Clarlaine Radoc, Francesca Marie Flores, Miguel Carlos Fernandez, Michael Wesley Poa, Reynold Munsayac, Mark Vinluan, Ralph Bodota, Carlo Joaquin Narvasa, Roberto Batungbacal, and Justin Nicol Gular.

A written note in the filing indicated that a tender copy had been provided to the House of Representatives, but it was not officially received.

"At 5:03 p.m. on June 16, 2025, the Senate Impeachment Court, through the Secretary of the Senate acting as Clerk of Court, received the Appearance Ad Cautelam from the law firm Fortun Narvasa & Salazar, formally entering its appearance as counsel for Vice President Sara Z. Duterte; the document also noted on page 3 that a copy was furnished to the House of Representatives at 3:42 p.m. the same day, but included the remark 'Tender Copy refuse to receive'," the release stated.

The impeachment trial is scheduled to take place in July during the session of the 20th Congress.

Earlier this month, the Senate came under fire from legal experts and members of the academe for sending Vice President Duterte’s impeachment case back to the House of Representatives shortly before the 19th Congress ended last week.

Although the senators were sworn in as senator-judges, the chamber did not proceed with the impeachment trial as the majority voted to return the case to House prosecutors for further certification. Duterte's impeachment has raised several constitutional questions, being the first in Philippine history to carry over from one Congress to the next.

In a press conference earlier this morning, Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero said there are no clear boundaries on what the impeachment court can decide.

Escudero disagreed with retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio’s view that returning the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives was irregular but not unconstitutional.

“I respect his opinion, but I do not agree. There are no limitations on what the impeachment court can or cannot decide,” he said in Filipino.

Escudero likewise pointed to the Constitution, which explicitly grants the Senate the sole power to try and decide all impeachment cases.

He said anyone who believes the Senate or the House has violated the Constitution is free to bring the matter before the Supreme Court.