Sigfrid Fortun leads defense panel in VP Sara's impeachment trial

One of the most prominent law firms in the country will represent Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial in the Senate.

Lawyers from Fortun Narvasa & Salazar officially entered their appearance as her defense team before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, on Monday.

Among those defending Duterte is veteran lawyer Sigfrid Fortun, who served on the defense team for former President Joseph Estrada during his impeachment trial from December 2000 to January 2001, Maki Pulido said in her report on ''24 Oras'' on Tuesday.

Fortun had also defended Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson in the Kuratong Baleleng case and spent nearly five years representing Andal Ampatuan Sr., his son Andal Jr., and 22 other defendants in the Maguindanao massacre case.

Considered the worst single-day election-related violence in Philippine history, the Maguindanao massacre on November 23, 2009 claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 journalists, who were part of a convoy as Esmael Mangudadatu's representatives went to file his certificate of candidacy as Andal Jr.'s rival in the 2010 gubernatorial election. 

Duterte's 16-member legal team also includes former Office of the Vice President spokesperson Michael Poa and Gregorio Narvasa II, who is the son of the late former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa. The elder Narvasa was also on Estrada's defense team during his impeachment trial.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint, which accused her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

The impeachment court voted 18-5 on June 10 to bring Duterte’s case back to the House without dismissing or terminating it.

The court asked the House to certify that the chamber did not violate the one impeachment complaint per year rule. It also said that the House should formally express to the Senate that it is still willing to prosecute the impeachment case. —VBL, GMA Integrated News