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Sison calls out Ligutan over Facebook post during VP Sara's impeachment trial
Philippines
National
Sison calls out Ligutan over Facebook post during VP Sara's impeachment trial
Sison calls out Ligutan over Facebook post during VP Sara's impeachment trial
Duterte's lead defense counsel says prosecution counsel's social media post on misleading questions was inappropriate and violated courtroom decorum
Published Aug 12, 2026 09:38 pm
At A Glance
- Defense lawyer Sheila Sison questioned the propriety of Ligutan's Facebook post on misleading questions.
- Ligutan said he was merely sharing what the law says and denied bad faith or malice.
- Sison stressed that the impeachment court prohibits participants from commenting on the case and urged lawyers to maintain professionalism.
Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison (right) calls out private prosecutor Amando Ligutan (left) over his Facebook post on misleading questions during cross-examination in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. (Photos courtesy of Senate of the Philippines / Senate PRIB)
Lead defense counsel Atty. Sheila Sison on Wednesday, August 12, called out private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan over a Facebook post reminding lawyers and law students that misleading questions are not allowed during cross-examination.
Sison raised the issue during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying Ligutan’s post appeared to refer to a heated exchange between prosecution counsel Atty. Lorna Kapunan and defense lawyer Atty. Kristine Ferrer over the use of misleading questions.
Sison questions propriety of Ligutan’s post
“I really find it in bad taste to do this at this time,” Sison said, stressing that the impeachment court is also a court of decorum.
Sison said the rules governing impeachment proceedings prohibit participants from commenting on the case, adding that Ligutan’s post was inappropriate.
“I think it’s inappropriate to do that to a fellow member of the bar,” she said.
Ligutan’s post came shortly after Ferrer said, “They are allowed,” following Kapunan’s remark that misleading questions are not allowed during cross-examination.
Sison clarified that Ferrer was not referring to misleading questions. Rather, Ferrer was saying that questions answerable by “yes” or “no” are allowed during cross-examination.
In her manifestation, Sison said that Ferrer was “only saying that leading questions are allowed on cross-examination, not misleading questions.”
“And yet we have a private prosecutor immediately taking to social media and posting this, implying something against the defense counsel,” Sison said. “We will not have this,” she added.
Ligutan stands by Facebook post
Ligutan later stood by his Facebook post, saying he was merely sharing a “statement of what the law says.”
“Whatever reaction ng (of) defense, sa kanila na ‘yun (it is theirs). I’m wise enough to know if I’m about to cross the line,” Ligutan told reporters after the impeachment proceedings.
“Did I mention a name? Did I mention a case? Zero. Nothing. If they felt alluded to, sa kanila na ‘yun (it’s on them),” he added.
Ligutan also said he would not delete the post, maintaining that he did not intend to target anyone.
“Buti sana kung (It would be better if) I named somebody; walang (there’s no) bad faith, walang (there’s no) malice,” he said.
The exchange came amid heightened courtroom tension as the prosecution and defense continued to clash over the conduct and scope of cross-examination in Duterte’s impeachment trial.