Tensions flared on the 15th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial as defense lawyer Atty. Sheila Sison called out prosecution lawyer Atty. Amando Ligutan over a social media post addressing the rules of cross-examination.
The dispute stems from an earlier exchange between defense attorney Atty. Kristine Ferrer and prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan.
After Kapunan argued that misleading questions are prohibited during cross-examination, Ferrer countered that defense counsel is allowed to ask them. Shortly after the exchange, Ligutan posted a public reminder about legal protocol online.
During her formal manifestation before the tribunal, Sison voiced strong concern over the prosecutor’s public commentary while proceedings were underway.
“This was posted at 11:29 a.m. by one of the private prosecutors, Atty. Amando Ligutan, posting that, ‘A principle all lawyers and law students know by heart: Misleading questions are not allowed even on cross-examination,’” Sison said.
“As far as I am concerned, the Impeachment Court is also a court of decorum, and the Rules of Impeachment under Rule 18 actually prohibit participants, especially lawyers, from commenting about the merits of the case,” she insisted, adding that she finds it “troubling that a private prosecutor would do this.”
Clarifying her colleague’s earlier statement, Sison explained that Ferrer was not claiming misleading questions are permitted, but was instead asserting the right to ask questions answerable by a simple “yes” or “no.”