A lighthearted exchange briefly eased tensions during the 15th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Wednesday, August 12, after House private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan joked that defense counsel Atty. Kristine Ferrer’s praise was beginning to sound like a eulogy.
The exchange came after Ferrer sought to respond to an earlier issue raised during the proceedings and prefaced her remarks by expressing admiration for Kapunan.
“Your Honor, can I please respond quickly lang? I have high respect for Atty. Kapunan. In fact, she's one of my idols,” Ferrer said.
Before Ferrer could continue, Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero interjected, saying, “You can end there, Counsel. Let's end here.”
Kapunan then responded in jest, drawing laughter inside the impeachment court.
“You can end there. It might sound like a eulogy, Your Honor. I'm still very much alive,” Kapunan quipped.
Ferrer attempted to continue her explanation, saying she had refrained from repeatedly objecting to Kapunan's questioning during the previous day's proceedings.
“Your Honor, kahapon niya, hindi ko nga siya kinukulit, diba? Kahit may mga questions na doon na leading, hindi naman allowed yun sa direct examination,” Ferrer said.
Escudero, however, once again cut in, telling Ferrer to conclude her remarks.
“You can end now, Counsel, if you respect it. Thank you. Thank you po,” the presiding officer said.
Earlier, Kapunan also joked about preventing herself from "spanking" Ferrer after repeated objections during witness examination, underscoring the increasingly tense but occasionally humorous atmosphere inside the impeachment court.
