Veteran litigator Atty. Lorna Kapunan has described her participation as one of the private prosecutors in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as "payback time" or a return of service to the country. Kapunan will lead ten high-caliber private prosecutors from three major law firms in the country during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate.
Pro Bono Legal Team
Kapunan's group has volunteered to serve pro bono, or without charge, to guide and strengthen the House prosecution panel. Kapunan will head the first batch of ten private lawyers from Kapunan & Castillo Law Offices, PECABAR Law, and SALiGAL Law who will voluntarily assist the House prosecution panel.
Call for Equal Justice
Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan of SALiGAL Law emphasized that the law should be applied fairly to everyone, regardless of status or fame of the surname. He questioned why a principal is imprisoned for 11 years for P5,000, while a vice president cannot be removed from office despite alleged misuse of millions of public funds.
Atty. Marforth Fua of PECABAR Law stated that they will serve as guides to ensure that the proper process under the Constitution is followed, particularly in providing support for the trial and refreshing the House prosecutors on current court rules.
The first batch of private lawyers is expected to formally enter and appear before the Senate impeachment court when the House prosecution panel files their pre-trial brief on June 15.
