House private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan on Wednesday apologized to Senator-judge Robin Padilla after members of the prosecution panel were called out for reacting while the senator was speaking during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The exchange unfolded after Padilla told the prosecution panel not to be "one-sided" in presenting its case. The remark triggered visible reactions from prosecutors seated in the front row, leading Padilla to pause and complain that he had been "interrupted."

"Bawal po ang ginagawa nitong nasa harap natin nagko-comment... Hindi po sila allowed na mag-ingay, korte po ito!... I was interrupted," Padilla said during the proceedings.

Speaking in a post-trial briefing, Kapunan admitted she was among those who reacted to Padilla's statement but insisted there was no intention to disrespect the senator.

"There was really no intent to disrespect him," Kapunan said in the post-trial briefing.

She explained that reacting to statements made during court proceedings is a natural "instinct" developed through years of litigation practice.

"Kaya lang siyempre 'pag lawyer ka at nasa litigation ka, mag-e-emote ka.... Hindi naman emote na drama, pero it is an instinctive reaction," she said.

Addressing Padilla directly, Kapunan said, "Sen. Robin, sabi mo kaibigan tayo. Forgive na lang. 'Di na kami uulit diyan."

Asked what specific reaction prompted Padilla's objection, Kapunan said she could no longer recall.

"As a lawyer, we instinctively react to what is wrong," she said, adding that the prosecution team has been "trying to behave."

"Minsan mahirap mag-behave kasi you react as a lawyer kasi ‘yung years of experience namin… Kaya nagdadasal nalang ako para hindi ako magreact," she added.

Kapunan also defended the prosecution's position, saying it is inherent in any trial that prosecutors advocate for the case while the defense represents the accused.

"The prosecution really is for prosecution, and the defense is for the defense... It is the nature of the beast.," she said.

She stressed that the panel's reactions were 'not meant as a sign of disrespect' but stemmed from years of legal training.

"It is not out of disrespect. It is because for years of training, where we instinctively react to what we think is wrong or to what we think is unfair," Kapunan said.

She noted, however, that prosecutors cannot directly challenge statements made by senator-judges during the impeachment proceedings, unlike exchanges with defense lawyers in ordinary court litigation.

"That is why sometimes a reaction is more visual than vocal," she said.

House prosecution lead Representative Gerville Luistro also weighed in on the issue, emphasizing that the requirement to remain impartial applies to members of the Senate impeachment court.

"Yung sinasabing dapat neutral, that applies to senator-judges," Luistro said.