Defense lawyer Carlo Joaquin Narvasa drew attention for repeatedly raising objections during the second day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Narvasa repeatedly objected during the proceedings, particularly when lawyer Amando Ligutan of the House prosecution team attempted to question the witness about the 2024 video of Duterte containing alleged grave threats against the president, first lady and former House speaker.
In November 2024, Duterte, made remarks during an online press conference about supposedly hiring an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez should something bad happen to her.
“Ano ba ang exactly ‘yung sinabi ng Vice President nung araw na ‘yan, November 23, 2024—,” Ligutan said during the impeachment trial.
“Objection, your honor!” Narvasa exclaimed.
“I’m not yet done!” Ligutan protested.
Ligutan was also spotted uttering “relax” after Narvasa raised multiple objections while he was questioning a witness, National Bureau of Investigation senior agent John Mark Calilung.
Narvasa’s repeated objections drew reactions from Filipinos, including Rep. Perci Cendaña (Akbayan party-list).
“Objection Counter ng defense counsel ni VP Sara, ilan na ba? Sinong nagbibilang?” he wrote, adding emojis.
Sinong nagbibilang? 🤦♂️🤣 pic.twitter.com/tkzqwWhwyZ
— Rep. Perci Cendaña (@RepPerci) July 7, 2026
Others joked that the incident could become a “drinking game,” where viewers would take a shot every time Narvasa raised an objection.
“New drinking game. Drink one shot every time Narvasa says ‘objection,'” an online user commented.
“Drinking game every time the defense or Narvasa says ‘Objection, your honor.’ Hangover malala until next year,” another wrote.
“Paki-mute ‘yung mic ni Narvasa, hahaha, puro objection na, ‘di pa tapos ang tanong, nakakaloka ka,” a different Pinoy commented.
“I wonder if someone is getting paid on a ‘per objection’ basis?” lawyer, columnist and former lawmaker Barry Gutierrez quipped.
Political commentator Jesus Falcis also commented on Narvasa’s repeated objections, saying that the lawyer’s “job seems to be is to be pedantic.”
“To always object and prevent evidence,” Falcis said.
Narvasa is a senior associate at a law firm who serves as a first-chair litigator in major arbitration and dispute-resolution cases.
He also specializes in corporate, commercial, mining and natural resources law.
Meanwhile, the House prosecution team is expected to tackle the fourth article of impeachment, which covers alleged grave threats, an assassination plot and inciting to sedition against the government over 11 trial days.