Vice President Sara Duterte’s 16 Lawyers Step Up for Trial
A total of 16 lawyers from the Fortun Narvasa & Salazar law firm have officially entered their appearance to defend Vice President Sara Duterte in her ongoing impeachment trial. This development was confirmed through a document labeled Appearance – Ad Cautelam, which the Senate impeachment court shared on June 16.
The document was received by the Secretary of the Senate, acting as the impeachment clerk of court. It states, “The undersigned Firm and the lawyers whose signatures appear below, respectfully enter their appearance as counsel for Vice President Sara Z. Duterte without prejudice to any jurisdictional and/or other objections that she may have in this case.” This marks the formal start of the Vice President’s legal defense in the Senate impeachment court.
Meet the 16 Lawyers Defending Duterte
The defense team includes 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, and Ralph Bodota.
Notably, Michael Wesley Poa and Reynold Munsayac previously served as spokespersons for the Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President, respectively. Both resigned amid congressional inquiries concerning the use of confidential funds, which also triggered the impeachment complaint filed against Duterte in the House of Representatives on February 5.
Senate Summons and Impeachment Trial Timeline
This recent move follows the Senate impeachment court’s issuance of the writ of summons to Vice President Duterte on June 11. The summons allows her 10 days from receipt to respond to the articles of impeachment transmitted by the House of Representatives earlier this year.
The impeachment trial is set to begin in July during the 20th Congress. This schedule was confirmed after senators serving as judges voted 18-5 to remit the articles back to the House. The lower chamber subsequently certified that the complaint complied fully with constitutional requirements.
Duterte Comments on AI-Generated Social Media Content
Aside from legal matters, Vice President Duterte addressed the issue of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content appearing on social media in her support. She said she sees no problem with sharing such content, provided it is not monetized or used for business.
“Wala yong problema siguro sa pag-share ng AI video in support sa akin. Basta ‘yung hindi ginagawang negosyo,” she told reporters during a press briefing in Davao City. She explained that if she owned a social media account and created AI content supporting a personality, it wouldn’t be an issue as long as it is not sold or commercialized.
The AI-generated video in question featured a staged interview with two male students explaining why they oppose Duterte’s impeachment. The video was flagged with the hashtag #AI and shared by prominent local officials, sparking debate over the ability to distinguish AI content from real footage.
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