A moment between opposing legal counsels, Lorna Kapunan and Kristine Ferrer, went viral after the former was seen hugging the latter minutes before the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
An X (formerly Twitter) user shared a clip showing Kapunan, a House private prosecutor, embracing Ferrer, a defense counsel, on Monday, August 17.
The moment happened just minutes before Day 16 of the trial started.
Kapunan was spotted approaching the defense counsel. Seconds later, Ferrer was seen standing from her seat and giving Kapunan a hug with a smile.
The two also exchanged words, with Ferrer smiling during the interaction.
Lawyer Michael Poa, the defense team spokesperson, was likewise spotted giving Kapunan a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Kapunan then turned her attention back to Ferrer, who was seen speaking pleasantly with the prosecutor.
“This was so wholesome. At the end of the day, she’s still a Lola,” the X user commented, adding a smiling-with-tears emoji, referring to Kapunan.
This was so wholesome 🥹 at the end of the day she’s still a Lola pic.twitter.com/AKETjsmWny
— marvièn (@mvn_dn) August 17, 2026
The post has garnered 5,000 likes and 401 quotes from other X users, many of whom also noticed the interaction between the opposing legal teams.
“Oh, Atty. Ferrer definitely needed that hug. You know what, at the end of the day, they’re just doing their jobs,” another commented.
“After all, the nanay in Atty. Kapunan prevails… so soft for this,” a different Pinoy wrote.
“At the end of the day, they’re all doing this as professionals and sila rin and naiipit at naci-criticize, salute po to all the attorneys representing the defense and prosecution,” another commented.
“‘Yung demeanor ni Atty. Ferrer nung lumapit si Atty. Kapunan, super light, parang ang laki nung nawalang burden sa kanya nung lumapit si Atty. Kapunan,” a different Pinoy wrote.
Kapunan and Ferrer previously got in a heated exchange during the trial, when the defense was cross-examining state auditor Xylene del Campo on the 15th day.
Kapunan asked the presiding officer and Senator-judge Chiz Escudero to instruct Ferrer not to interrupt the witness while she was answering her questions.
Ferrer countered by asking Escudero to direct the witness to answer only “yes” or “no,” reminding Kapunan that she would have time to ask clarifying questions during the redirect examination.
Kapunan then argued that not all questions could be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” and that “misleading questions” are not allowed during cross-examination.
Kapunan also joked that she wanted to “spank” Ferrer.
The two counsels were later asked about their relationship and temperament toward each other following the incident.
“Wala! Sobrang love ko ‘to!” Ferrer exclaimed in an interview.
“What we do inside the court, we leave it there. Outside, we’re friends. She’s like a mother to me,” she added.
“Buti hindi mo sinabing grandmother!” Kapunan interjected and then later said that she is acquainted with Ferrer’s mother.
“Motherly love ‘yun. Ikaw naman, tough love… Basta ang bagyo ngayon, sa labas [ng court],” Kapunan said.
The impeachment court is currently tackling Article I of the complaints against Duterte, which involves her alleged misappropriation and irregular liquidation of confidential funds through the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
