Metro Manila, Philippines – Over 20 public and private prosecutors have joined forces to prove the allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte, while 16 lawyers are defending the second highest official in a high stakes impeachment trial.
Duterte, 48, is the first vice president in Philippine history facing a full-blown trial over allegations of fund misuse, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats to the presidential family.
READ: Breaking down the proposed Articles of Impeachment vs. Duterte
The list of prosecution and defense lawyers is based on documents submitted to the Senate, sitting as the Impeachment Court, as well as public announcements from both camps.
House prosecutors
Eleven lawmakers – all lawyers – will serve as public prosecutors after they were elected by the House of Representatives in May.
Leading the prosecution panel is Batangas 2nd district Rep. Jinky Luistro, chairperson of the justice committee, which established probable cause to impeach Duterte.
Luistro, who earned her law degree from the University of Batangas, was one of lead investigators in a tax credit scam probe during the Arroyo administration.
As lead prosecutor, she is involved in the presentation of evidence on all the four Articles of Impeachment against the vice president.
The prosecution panel has also assigned head prosecutors per impeachment article.
Article I (Misuse of confidential funds) – Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua
Article II (Unexplained wealth) – Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon
Article III (Bribery of procurement officials) – Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Keith Flores
Article IV (Threats against the president) – Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor
Also part of the prosecution team are seasoned lawyers, including former senator and justice chief Leila de Lima, who is now representative for Mamamayang Liberal party-list, and Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, former dean of the De La Salle University College of Law.
Others are Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-Ao, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, San Juan Rep. Bel Zamora, and Cagayan de Oro 1st district Rep. Lordan Suan.
Private prosecutors
Meanwhile, at least 15 private lawyers from top law firms have volunteered on the case.
Private prosecutors may help the House prosecution team on legal research, organizing documents, and preparing evidence and witnesses, among others.
Among the 15 prosecutors is seasoned litigator Lorna Kapunan, who handled high profile cases.
Kapunan, a practitioner for nearly five decades, was counsel to the family of Horacio Castillo, a hazing victim from the University of Santo Tomas, a case that led to conviction of fraternity members.
In 2025, Kapunan represented businessman and fugitive Atong Ang who is facing charges over the case of missing sabungeros (cockfighters).
Kapunan is joined by four other lawyers from her firm “Kapunan and Castillo Law.”
- Lino Kapunan
- Sonya Castillo
- Deanna Lorenzo-Singian
- Bettina Zamora
Benjamin Tolosa, legal spokesperson for the prosecution team, is also part of the private prosecution panel. He is the founding and managing partner of Tolosa, Javier, Lim and Chua firm.
Other private prosecutors are:
- Marforth Fua (PECABAR, formerly Ponce-Enriles-Reyes-and Manalastas)
- James Bryan Ibrahim Alih (PECABAR)
- Erwin Matib (PECABAR)
- Justine Lamarca (PECABAR)
- Amando Ligutan (SaLiGal Law)
- Reynaldo Robles (Chan Robles & Associates)
- Arnold Labay (Chan Robles & Associates)
- Mae Divinagracia (Co Nazario Velasco-Catera Divinagracia Law)
- Theodore Te (Interim chairperson, Free Legal Assistance Group)
Duterte’s defense team
On the other hand, Duterte has tapped 16 lawyers, mainly from Fortun, Narvasa and Salazar.
Leading the defense panel is Sheila Sison, alumna of the San Sebastian College of Law-Recoletos where the vice president also earned her law degree.
Her law firm described Sison as a “fierce litigator,” who specializes in criminal litigation, defending “clients in numerous cases before the Sandiganbayan.”
Also part of the vice president’s defense team is Philip Sigfrid Fortun, who was part of the defense counsels of former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada in the aborted impeachment trial in 2001.
Michael Poa, former education undersecretary, is also on the team, serving as defense spokesperson.
Other members are:
- Gregorio Y Narvasa II
- Kristine Ferrer
- Carlo Joaquin Narvasa
- Justin Nicol Gular
- David Ronelll Golla VII
- Lindon Miguel Bacquel
- Karol Grace Oroceo
- Clarlaine Radoc
- Francesca Marie Flores
- Miguel Carlos Fernandez
- Mark Vinluan
- Ralph Bodota
- Roberto Batungbacal
