MANILA — Lawyers from the Fortun Narvasa & Salazar law office, along with other counsel, have formally entered their appearance for Vice President Sara Duterte in the impeachment proceedings before the House Committee on Justice.

The committee received the Appearance Ad Cautelam on March 9, 2026.

In the document, the lawyers stated that they were entering their appearance “without waiving any jurisdictional and other objections to these proceedings and her right to avail of the appropriate remedies therefor.”

However, a member of the House panel raised concerns over possible ethical issues involving two members of the Vice President’s legal team who could potentially serve as witnesses in the case.

House Committee on Justice member and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said lawyers Michael Poa and Reynold Munsayac might have material information relevant to the impeachment complaints.

“The presence of potential witnesses in the Vice President’s legal team raises serious ethical and procedural questions,” Ridon said in a statement.

“As DepEd spokesperson at the time, Mr. Poa was the official who repeatedly explained and defended the use of confidential funds before the public and the media. That position places him close to the policy decisions and internal processes governing the use of those funds. It also means he may possess material information relevant to the impeachment complaints,” he added.

Ridon also noted that Munsayac previously served as spokesperson for the Vice President and as Assistant Secretary for Procurement.

“If there were questions regarding the preparation of documents, compliance with auditing rules, or the legal justification for certain transactions, individuals involved in those processes could be asked to testify,” Ridon said.

“A lawyer cannot simultaneously act as an advocate and a witness in the same case without raising serious ethical concerns,” he added.

Ridon clarified, however, that the filing of the Appearance Ad Cautelam does not necessarily mean Duterte will submit a formal answer to the impeachment complaints.

“Wala naman hong ganoong implication na tutugon o hindi. Kaya nga I think may nakabanggit po doon na ‘ad cautelam.’ Ibig sabihin, with caution. Ibig sabihin, nagpapakilala lang po ang mga abogado na kakatawan kay Vice President Sara Duterte in impeachment proceedings. Pero I think they are reserving their right to actually, firstly, to provide an answer, and secondly, to continue cooperating with the Justice Committee in this impeachment proceedings,” Ridon said in an online interview.

When asked whether Poa and Munsayac could refuse to appear if called as witnesses, Ridon said they may be compelled to attend the proceedings.

“If they refuse to attend as resource persons, they will have to be subpoenaed to attend the proceedings. So, siyempre [of course], they will still have to respond to the queries of the members of the Justice Committee,” he said.

Ridon added that if the two appear as witnesses, they may invoke lawyer-client privilege only on matters involving legal advice.

“Puwedeng i-invoke yung lawyer-client privilege kapag related lang doon sa mga bagay na nagbibigay ho silang advice to the vice president or legal issues [They may invole lawyer-client privilege on matters related to the advice they give the vice president, or legal issues]. Pero on factual questions related to their work at the OVP and to their work at the Department of Education, I don’t think that privilege can in fact be invoked even if they present themselves as lawyers or the vice president,” Ridon said.