Sara Duterte Faces Senate Impeachment Trial for Second Time

The single sharpest fact: Vice President Sara Duterte is set to face the Senate impeachment court for the second time. This is after being impeached by the House of Representatives last May. Duterte becomes the first Filipino public official to have been impeached twice by the legislative's lower chamber.

Duterte's impeachment trial begins on Monday, July 6, at the Senate. The trial follows her impeachment by the House of Representatives in May due to alleged threats to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, misuse of confidential funds, and unexplained wealth. Although she filed a petition with the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the trial, the High Court refused to issue a temporary restraining order. The five-day pre-trial conference in June culminated on June 25, clearing the way for this week's trial.

Duterte will be defended by a group of lawyers from the Fortun, Narvasa and Salazar (FNS) law firm. Her lead counsel, Sheila Sison, is a partner at the firm. Sison earned her law degree from San Sebastian College Recoletos, where she graduated class valedictorian in 2014. She specializes in criminal litigation and has handled Sandiganbayan cases. Sison also holds the record of being chosen as the Firm's Lawyer of the Year for five consecutive years from 2015 to 2019.

One of Duterte's defense lawyers is Philip Sigfrid Fortun, a founding partner of the FNS law firm. Fortun studied at the University of the Philippines (UP) from high school to law school, earning his law degree in 1983 and passing the Bar in 1984. He has experience in criminal and civil litigation, arbitration, and even impeachment. Fortun's firm has handled major cases, including the Ampatuan case, although they later withdrew due to 'potential conflict'.

Another member of Duterte's defense team is Gregorio Narvasa II, a founding partner of the FNS firm. Narvasa, the son of the late Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, earned his business management degree from Ateneo de Manila University and passed the Bar in 1986. Before his law career, Narvasa played basketball and was a member of Ateneo's basketball varsity team, clinching the Most Valuable Player award during the National Collegiate Athletic Association 1975-1976 season.

The impeachment trial against Duterte is set to test the country's political landscape, particularly with a vice president facing such a high-stakes trial. The outcome of the trial remains uncertain, with Duterte's defense team working to clear her name.

The single sharpest fact: Vice President Sara Duterte is set to face the Senate impeachment court for the second time. This is after being impeached by the House of Representatives last May.

Duterte's impeachment trial is expected to be more challenging for her, with the Supreme Court refusing to issue a temporary restraining order to stop the trial. The five-day pre-trial conference in June culminated on June 25, clearing the way for this week's trial.