Kristine Ferrer‘s latest role is to defend Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial at the Senate.

Ferrer, a certified public accountant (CPA) and a lawyer, is one of the Vice President’s 16 defense counsels. Same as the others, most of Duterte’s lawyers came from the Fortun, Narvasa, and Salazar (FNS) law firm.

She first took the floor on August 5 and opposed, on behalf of the defense, the prosecution’s request to stipulate or agree to some Commission on Audit (COA) documents being used for the trial.

“Your honor, we cannot stipulate on that because we are not from COA so we are not privy, your honor, to any of the resolutions or memoranda that were issued with respect to the assignment of their employees, your honor,” said Ferrer while wearing a black suit, eyeglasses, and holding a blue pen.

On the same day, Ferrer argued again, reading the defense’s opposition against the prosecutors’ request to take judicial notice of the House committee on good government and justice’s impeachment-related hearings. Judicial notice is a rule that allows a court or a judge to accept “a fact as true without requiring formal presentation of evidence.”

Her oral arguments took exactly 11 minutes and 48 seconds.

“Nararapat lamang po na ang mga TSN (transcript of stenographic notes), video recordings, at committee reports na naglalaman ng mga tanong ng mga kongresista, pati na ang mga pahayag at sagot ng testigo, ay patunayan ng prosecution sa pamamagitan ng pagpresinta ng testigo upang magpatunay sa katotohanan ng mga ito,” said Ferrer.

(The TSN, video recordings, and committee reports containing the questions of lawmakers, as well as the statements and responses of the witnesses, should be proven by the prosecution by presenting witnesses who will testify on their veracity.)

The defense somewhat lost that day because the impeachment court granted the prosecution’s motion. Only a partial defeat because although the tribunal sided with the House, it reminded the floor that judicial notice is limited only to the facts that the hearings were held and that their official records exist, among others.

The court also still made it clear that Duterte’s lawyers may still cross-examine or cast doubt on the records that will be presented by the prosecution.

“Judicial notice proves a hearing happened; it is not a backdoor vehicle to smuggle hearsay into the record and strip the Respondent of her constitutional right to cross-examine her accusers,” said the court.

Clash with a titan

Ferrer has 15 years of legal experience. It made sense that the defense fielded her to do the cross-examination of a COA witness, since she is a CPA lawyer. She’s experienced handling cases related to audits and taxes.

But Ferrer was up against a titan — veteran lawyer Lorna Kapunan — who is counsel for the prosecution. It was a tough showdown in other words.

During Kapunan’s direct examination of COA state auditor Xylene del Campo on August 11, Ferrer was almost unnoticeable. She was quietly observing from her podium.

There was an initial misunderstanding that day, however, when the parties clashed over stipulations again. But this was no match to the friction that was about to unfold the next day.

When it was time for Ferrer to do her cross-examination on August 12, she got into a passionate exchange with Kapunan over the presentation of the Office of the Vice President’s audit observation memorandum. Ferrer asserted herself with a high-pitched voice, telling the floor that the opposing counsel should not dictate on how she does her cross-examination.

From time to time, Ferrer would raise her voice during the cross — even stopping either Kapunan or the witness in their sentences midway. Some found her demeanor concerning.

“Parang may anger issues ‘yong defense [lawyer], ‘no? Parang sinisigawan ‘yong witness, sinisigawan ‘yong opposing counsel (The defense lawyer seems to have anger issues, right? It appears she was raising her voice at the witness, at the opposing counsel),” House prosecutor Terry Ridon said on August 12.

But the emotions ran the highest when Ferrer asked Del Campo about COA’s Joint Circular No. 2015-01 or the memorandum that covers the auditing process for confidential funds.

“Never mind if you are on cross. There are limits to cross-examination. Misleading questions are not allowed in court,” Kapunan told the defense counsel.

“They are allowed,” Ferrer responded. “I don’t think I need to lecture her on that,” Kapunan said.

On the floor, Ferrer defended herself, clarifying that she holds deep respect for Kapunan.

“I have high respect for Attorney Kapunan. In fact, she’s one of my idols,” said the lawyer.

Through spokesperson Michael Poa, the defense clarified that Ferrer had no intention of disrespecting anyone. Poa said Ferrer was just highly charged on Wednesday, adding that every lawyer has his/her own style.

“I’m sure there was no intention to disrespect anyone, be it opposing counsel, the witness, and of course the honorable court,” Poa said during a briefing.

Lawyer from Davao

Ferrer is currently a partner at the FNS law firm, serving as its head of Tax. Prior to this, she was a tax lawyer at Sycip Gorres Velayo &, Co.

Her specializations include:

• Arbitration
• Corporate and commercial practice and corporate rehabilitation
• Litigation and dispute resolution
• Taxation

According to her company profile, her expertise includes mergers and acquisitions, and she was involved in major local and foreign transactions handled by FNS.

Ferrer has also handled cases before the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Court of Tax Appeals. She has also taken cases involving civil, criminal, commercial, and intra-corporate disputes.

She was part of the legal team that handled the P25-billion tax compromise settlement between the BIR and Mighty Corporation. She was also involved in the preparation of the ₱45-billion acquisition of Mighty Corporation’s assets by JT International (Philippines), Inc.

“More recently, Tine’s team secured a refund of erroneously paid taxes on royalties amounting to ₱152.5 million before the Court of Tax Appeals — a rare and remarkable feat in tax litigation,” said the FNS law firm.

Ferrer is also a multi-awarded lawyer.

In 2023, Tycoon Success Magazine named her as one of the “10 Most Successful Leaders to Follow in Asia,” then as one of the “Top 10 Consulting Company Leaders from the Philippines” by CEO insights on the same year. She was also recognized by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a “recommended lawyer” for projects and energy, and for corporate and mergers and acquisitions.

The lawyer, who’s originally from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, was admitted to the Bar in 2011, with Roll No. 58882.

She earned both her accountancy and law degree from the Ateneo de Davao University. She also holds a certification in negotiation mastery from the Harvard Business School Online.

Ferrer was also a lecturer. She has taught accounting, taxation law, and special proceedings at her alma mater.

Before these accolades, Ferrer was a working student, a student leader, and a dean’s lister. She was also a seasoned debater.

In 2009, her team was named champion of the First National Debate on International Humanitarian Law. She received the best debater award in the said tournament. Ferrer was also a finalist in the first season of the ANC CVC Law Debates in 2008.

Ferrer also became the president of the Ateneo Law Forensic Association and Lakas Atenista. – Rappler.com