Get to know VP Sara Duterte's defense team
With the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte officially underway, her 16-member legal defense team entered into appearance on July 6.
The defense team, mostly coming from Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar Law—the same firm that represented Duterte in her bid to oppose the impeachment trial—includes litigators with backgrounds in constitutional law, criminal litigation, and commercial disputes.
Get to know them below:
Atty. Sheila Sison — Lead Counsel
Sheila C. Sison is a partner at Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar Law and is recognized for her extensive litigation practice, particularly in criminal law. She has represented clients in numerous high-profile cases before the Sandiganbayan, as well as handled cases in civil litigation, family law, appellate practice, labor law, mining law, and corporate law.
Before entering the legal profession, Sison attended Quezon City Science High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts, major in Writing, from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where she was active in student leadership, campus journalism, and debate.
She founded and led several university organizations, served as Lady Chancellor of the UP Sigma Alpha Nu Sorority, and sat on the editorial board of the student publication as Opinion Editor.
She obtained her Bachelor of Laws from San Sebastian College of Law–Recoletos as a full academic scholar. Throughout law school, she consistently made the Dean's List, graduated as class valedictorian, and became the inaugural recipient of the Academic Excellence Medal of Honor awarded by the Recoletos Educational Apostolate of the Philippines. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2014.
She was recognized as the Lawyer of the Year for five consecutive years, from 2015 to 2019, at her firm.
Outside the courtroom, Sison has also pursued literary interests. In 2001, she was selected as a poetry fellow at the Ateneo de Manila University National Writers Workshop. She is likewise a member of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc.
Atty. Michael Poa — Spokesperson & Legal Counsel
Michael Wesley T. Poa is the Managing Partner of Poa Himala Virtucio Law. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from UP in 2018, graduating ninth in his class, and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2019. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Creative Arts and Italian Studies, from Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, in 2007.
During his undergraduate studies, he received the Chancellor's Commendation for Outstanding Academic Performance and was inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Poa specializes in criminal, civil, and commercial litigation, taxation, and special projects. Before entering private practice, Poa spent over a decade in public service. From 2010 to 2022, he served as Chief of Staff to Government Service Insurance System trustees Dr. Alejandro R. Roces, Gregorio T. Yu, and General Alan R. Luga.
From 2022 to 2024, he served as undersecretary, chief of staff, and spokesperson of the Department of Education. He held these positions during the tenure of Duterte and concluded his service following the appointment of Secretary Sonny Angara in July 2024.
Atty. Philip Sigfrid Fortun
Philip Sigfrid Fortun is a founding partner of FNS Law. He studied at UP from high school through law school, earning his law degree in 1983 before passing the Bar the following year. Before co-founding the firm in 1993, he spent nearly a decade as an associate at one of the country's largest law firms.
Fortun has built a career in criminal and civil litigation, arbitration, and impeachment proceedings. He is also a trained volunteer firefighter with the Bureau of Fire Protection and is affiliated with the Philippine Military Academy Sandigan Class of 1982.
Over the years, he has represented several high-profile clients, including serving as defense counsel for Sen. Panfilo Lacson in the Kuratong Baleleng case, Sen. JV Ejercito in his graft case, and former president Joseph Estrada during his 2000–2001 impeachment trial.
Atty. Carlo Joaquin Narvasa
Carlo Joaquin T. Narvasa is a senior associate at FNS Law. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and his Juris Doctor degree from AdMU. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2016.
His practice focuses on arbitration, corporate and commercial practice, corporate rehabilitation, litigation and dispute resolution, as well as projects, mining, and natural resources.
Atty. Gregorio Narvasa II
Attorney Gregorio Y. Narvasa II is a founding partner of FNS Law.
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management (Honors Course) from AdMU before graduating eighth in his class from UP College of Law. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1986.
He is the son of the late former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, who served as lead defense counsel for Estrada in the 2000-2001 impeachment. His practice focuses on labor law, litigation, and dispute resolution.
He was also recognized by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a Recommended Lawyer in 2016 and 2017.
Beyond his legal practice, he has been actively involved in Philippine sports administration, serving as Commissioner of the Philippine Basketball League from 1992 to 1994, then at the Metroball Basketball Association from 2000 to 20001, and as President of the Ateneo Sports Hall of Fame, Inc.
Atty. Roberto Batungbacal
Roberto Narvasa Batungbacal is a partner at Bodota and Batungbacal Law Offices.
He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Management Economics and his Juris Doctor degree from AdMU in 2019 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar the following year.
His practice focuses on litigation and dispute resolution, representing clients in civil, commercial, and criminal matters. He also formed part of the legal team that prepared and filed petitions before the Supreme Court that resulted in landmark decisions in 2025.
Batungbacal was a member of the AdMU varsity swimming team and competed in the UAAP.
Atty. Ralph Bodota
Ralph Borja Bodota is the managing partner of Bodota & Batungbacal Law Offices. A CPA-Lawyer, he earned his Bachelor of Laws from Arellano University School of Law, graduating with honors as a member of the Order of the Flaming Arrows, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Accountancy from Catanduanes State University.
His practice focuses on litigation, taxation, corporate and commercial law, government audit, procurement, and regulatory compliance. He represents clients in criminal, civil, administrative, and commercial cases, while also advising businesses on tax compliance, corporate governance, contracts, data privacy, anti-money laundering compliance, and corporate housekeeping.
Atty. Justin Gular
Justin Nicol Gular is a senior associate at FNS Law. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology and his Juris Doctor, with a thesis track in International Law Practice, from the University of San Carlos.
His practice focuses on litigation and dispute resolution, representing clients in criminal, civil, and commercial cases, appellate practice, and proceedings before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. He also advises clients on corporate and commercial matters, including regulatory compliance, corporate housekeeping, contract review, due diligence, mergers and acquisitions, and greenfield investments.
Atty. David Golla VII
David Ronell M. Golla VII is a senior associate at FNS Law. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major in Legal Management, magna cum laude, from New Era University and his Juris Doctor, graduating with Second Honors, from Far Eastern University Makati.
His practice covers corporate and commercial law, family and estate law, labor law, and litigation and dispute resolution. He advises clients on a range of corporate matters while representing them in civil, commercial, labor, and other legal proceedings.
Atty. Kristine Ferrer
Kristine R. Ferrer is a partner at FNS Law. A CPA-Lawyer, she earned both her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Bachelor of Laws from Ateneo de Davao University, where she also taught taxation law, special proceedings, and accounting. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2011.
Her practice focuses on taxation, corporate and commercial law, arbitration, and litigation and dispute resolution. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, tax litigation, and regulatory compliance, and has represented clients before the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Court of Tax Appeals.
Atty. Karol Grace Oroceo
Karol Grace G. Oroceo is an associate at FNS Law. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts, major in Advertising Arts, and her Juris Doctor from the University of San Carlos, where she received the First Best Thesis Award for her research on the legal treatment of AI-generated literary, scientific, and artistic works. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2022.
Her practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, family and estate law, taxation, and litigation and dispute resolution. Before joining the firm in 2022, she interned at the Office of the Solicitor General and served as a Legal Researcher at the Supreme Court of the Philippines, experiences that strengthened her work in corporate, civil, criminal, administrative, and tax-related matters.
Atty. Clarlaine Radoc
Also an associate at FNS Law, Clarlaine F. Radoc graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in Management Accounting from the University of San Carlos before earning her Juris Doctor from the same university. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2022. While in law school, she served as Minister of Finance of the law student council and co-headed the university's Bar Operations Committee.
Her practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, litigation, and dispute resolution. Before joining Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar, she gained legal experience at a private corporation and a full-service law firm in Makati City, further strengthening her experience in commercial and litigation matters.
Atty. Francesca Flores
Francesca Marie V. Flores is also an associate at FNS Law. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Management, with a minor in English Literature, from Ateneo de Manila University before obtaining her Juris Doctor from the University of San Carlos. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2024.
Her practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, family and estate law, labor law, and litigation and dispute resolution. According to her profile, she was actively involved in the USC Center for Legal Aid Work, StreetLawPH, the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, and the National Union of People's Lawyers during her time in law school, where she gained experience in legal aid and public interest advocacy.
Atty. Miguel Carlos Fernandez
Miguel Carlos A. Fernandez is among the associates from FNS Law who are included in Duterte's defense team. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Santo Tomas before obtaining his Juris Doctor from the AdMU School of Law. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2024.
His practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, labor law, and litigation and dispute resolution. He advises clients on a range of corporate and regulatory matters while representing them in civil, commercial, and labor-related disputes.
Atty. Lindon Bacquel
Lindon Miguel C. Bacquel is a senior associate at FNS Law. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Management, major in Legal Management with a minor in English Literature from AdMU before obtaining his Juris Doctor from the AdMU School of Law. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2022.
His practice focuses on arbitration, immigration, and litigation and dispute resolution.
Atty. Mark Vinluan
Mark Vinluan was an associate at FNS Law from 2013 to 2015. He earned his Juris Doctor from AdMU School of Law in 2013 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2014. He is currently a Partner at Vinluan Law Office.
Duterte is facing a total of four impeachment complaints. The first complaint was filed by a coalition of various organizations on Feb. 2, but was set aside for violating the one-year bar rule. The second was filed on Feb. 9, but was withdrawn to consolidate support for the third complaint.
The third complaint, backed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, charged Duterte with culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder or malversation, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
The fourth complaint, endorsed by House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, similarly alleged constitutional violations, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other impeachable offenses.
The House lawmakers voted 257 in favor of her impeachment during its first regular session on May 11. Twenty-five voted against it, while nine abstained.
If the Senate impeachment court finds her guilty of the charges, Duterte will be removed from her current post and permanently barred from holding public office.
