Private lawyers assisting the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte have refuted allegations that Malacañang is directing their involvement.
Atty. Lorna Kapunan, a member of the private legal team, explicitly denied receiving any directives from external political figures or institutions during a press briefing on Thursday.
“Whether from the House, whether from the Senate, whether from Malacañang, we do not receive instructions. We are here, we give our professional help, we do our own personal judgments as to political issues and our own separate political beliefs,” Kapunan stated.
She also cautioned critics against making baseless claims regarding the team’s professional affiliations.
“So sasabihin nila na Malacañang ang private prosecutors, ay mag-isip-isip sila. Magaling rin kami mag-file ng cyber libel complaint kagaya ng public prosecutors,” she added.
Addressing concerns regarding PECABAR Law—a firm historically tied to the Marcos family—Kapunan maintained that their legal operations remain entirely autonomous.
“I have worked with PECABAR, and I can speak for the private prosecutors and from our lawyers that we do not receive instructions from anyone,” she noted.
Marforth Fua, the managing partner of PECABAR, acknowledged the firm’s historical connection to the Marcos family but clarified that their current engagement is strictly professional and initiated by Congress.
“Well, we cannot really hide our identity because Pecabar, really, since the time of President Marcos Sr., is closely associated with the Marcoses. But this, it is the House who enlisted our support, not the President or not anyone of the First Family,” Fua explained.
SALiGAL Law managing partner Amando Virgil Ligutan supported this stance, emphasizing that previous political ties do not compromise the integrity of the legal team.
“Whatever their past political affiliation, they have nothing to do on the task at hand. Napaka-independent, napaka-credible, napaka-professional, and more than anything, napaka-competent po ng ating mga abogado from Pecabar,” Ligutan said.
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, who heads the 11-member House prosecution panel, further clarified that the private lawyers were selected independently by the panel itself.
“We want to make it clear, ang pagpili po ng private prosecutors is an exclusive decision ng 11 House prosecutors. It is us who decide kung sino ang tutulong sa amin na private prosecutors,” Luistro stated.
The House panel has officially engaged 10 private legal practitioners to assist in the upcoming impeachment trial.