Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, October 14, hit back at private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan for calling her lead defense counsel, Atty. Sheila Sison, a “bully” and “bastos” during the ongoing impeachment trial.
Kapunan criticized Sison over her use of the terms “persecution,” “accused,” and “denial of due process” in her manifestations before the Senate impeachment court, accusing the defense counsel of disrespecting both the prosecution team and the senator-judges.
“Because of my years of practice, I know what bullying is. I am a defender of those who are victims of bullying, and that’s exactly what the head defense counsel always does to us,” Kapunan said during a press briefing.
In response, Duterte likened Kapunan’s remarks to portraying David as the aggressor against Goliath, arguing that the criticism was an attempt to vilify a lawyer defending her against what she described as an overwhelming display of political power.
“Lorna Kapunan calling a defense counsel a bully is like calling David the aggressor against Goliath,” Duterte said in a statement.
The Vice President also questioned the evidence supporting the impeachment allegations, claiming that the House of Representatives had failed to substantiate its accusations despite exercising its subpoena powers.
“You started impeachment with allegations but failed to establish them with compelling evidence,” Duterte said. “After all that, where is the evidence?”
Duterte further raised concerns over alleged cash distribution and political maneuvering surrounding the proposed 2027 national budget, questioning whether public funds were being used to serve Filipinos or to pressure senators who would serve as judges in the impeachment trial.
She defended Sison’s work, saying the defense team had devoted countless hours to preparing for the case since 2023, sacrificing sleep, family time and peace of mind to study documents and build its defense.
The exchange comes after Sison challenged the prosecution’s decision to withdraw three of the four impeachment articles against Duterte, warning that the move was unfair and raising the possibility of a mistrial. The Senate impeachment court allowed the withdrawal of Articles I, III and IV, leaving Article II for consideration.
Duterte condemned what she described as political theater disguised as accountability and called for consistent standards in holding public officials accountable, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“A defense counsel does not become a bully simply because she refuses to let your accusations go unchallenged,” Duterte said.
“Evidence, not arrogance. Genuine accountability, not political persecution,” she added.
