MANILA, Philippines — Prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan reminded the Senate on Thursday that it passed the Safe Spaces Act after Sen. Raffy Tulfo criticized a prosecution team member for allegedly “trying to be cute” while questioning a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Kapunan said she viewed Tulfo’s remark as a possible misstatement but stressed that the Senate should maintain a safe environment for women.
“Let me just say that I think the Senate should be reminded that it was the Senate that passed the Safe Space Law,” Kapunan said at a press briefing.
She also noted that Sen. Risa Hontiveros sponsored the measure, which people commonly call the “Bawal Bastos Law.”
“So we are believing that could be a misstatement, but still believing that the Senate is a safe space for women like us, and for senior citizens like me,” Kapunan said.
Republic Act No. 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, became law in April 2019 under then-President Rodrigo Duterte. In January 2025, the Senate unanimously approved on third reading a bill seeking to strengthen the law.
Tulfo questions prosecution strategy
Tulfo made his remarks during Thursday’s impeachment proceedings as he criticized the prosecution’s approach to presenting witnesses.
The senator said prosecutors should use a more strategic approach and present witnesses who could contribute directly to the proceedings.
Tulfo cited an instance involving a police officer and said a prosecutor appeared to be “trying to be cute while talking to the police officer.” He did not identify the prosecutor.
Public prosecutor and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon denied that any member of the prosecution team tried to act “cute” with a witness.
Ridon said the prosecutors remained focused on proving the allegations contained in the Articles of Impeachment.
He also asked Tulfo to identify the prosecutor if the senator referred to a specific incident.
Ridon then joked that Kapunan was the only “cute” member of the prosecution team.
Zamora draws separate criticism
The exchange came after San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora faced online criticism over her questioning of P/Maj. Joericson Sangalang of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office.
Sangalang became the first police officer to testify for the prosecution and addressed Article II of the impeachment complaint, which alleges that Duterte had unexplained wealth that she failed to declare in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
Zamora questioned Sangalang about firearms allegedly owned by Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, that did not appear in Duterte’s previous SALNs.
Some Duterte supporters subsequently accused Zamora on social media of acting “flirtatious” and “cute” during the questioning. Zamora responded that critics should “get a life” if they could not accept her style.
Several lawmakers later defended Zamora.
Prosecution spokesperson and former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said Wednesday that personal and sexist attacks against Zamora sought to divert attention from the issues raised during the impeachment trial.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V also described the attacks as a tactic from Duterte supporters.
Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said her group stood with Zamora and urged attention to the issues under consideration rather than Zamora’s personality or gender.
“We stand with Rep. Bel Zamora against the misogynistic comments and personal attacks directed at her online following her role in the impeachment trial,” Elago said.
