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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Kapunan's lawyering for Atong Ang has nothing to do with role in impeachment case — Chua

Kapunan's lawyering for Atong Ang has nothing to do with role in impeachment case — Chua

Published Jul 14, 2025 01:22 pm

At A Glance

  • Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua does not see anything wrong with lawyer Lorna Kapunan being the legal counsel of gaming tycoon Atong Ang while also being a reported volunteer private prosecutor in the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua does not see anything wrong with lawyer Lorna Kapunan being the legal counsel of gaming tycoon Atong Ang while also being a reported volunteer private prosecutor in the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.
"Si Atty. Kapunan po ay isang abogado. So dapat ay iseparate po natin ang kanyang trabaho dito po kay Atong Ang dahil ang ginagampanan nya po don ay isang abodaga. Samin naman po kasi sya ay pro bono (Kapunan is a lawyer. We need to separate her job for Atong Ang from the impeachment case. She is lawyering for him while for us House prosecutors, she is offering pro bono services)," Chua said in a press conference.
Ang is being accused as the mastermind behind the abduction of several cockfight enthusiasts.
Chua said Kapunan is only giving her legal opinion, which she does for free. The House of Representatives has not yet officially acknowledged her as part of the team of private prosecutors.
She is not the only one whose legal expertise is being sought by the House prosecutors, Chua said.
"To be honest... marami din sila. Hindi lang si Atty. Kapunan ang nagbibigay ng pro bono service sa amin bilang isang ekperiyensyadong abogado (There are many of them. It's not only Atty. Kapunan who is giving us pro bono services as an experienced lawyer)," he added.
In late June, a House member reportedly confirmed that Kapunan would be tapped as private prosecutor to help the 11 solon-prosecutors gain a conviction against the impeached Vice President.
But several days later, Kapunan appeared before a press conference as Ang's lawyer after the gaming tycoon was linked to the case of missing sabungeros (cockfighters) three years ago.
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