Who is Lorenz Defensor, public prosecutor in Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial?

Lorenz “Noy” Defensor, the Congressman for Iloilo’s 3rd District, has emerged as a significant figure in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, taking the lead as the prosecutor for the fourth article of impeachment. This article alleges that Duterte committed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes, particularly citing instances of apparent death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former speaker Martin Romualdez. In his opening statement on July 7, Defensor articulated the core of the prosecution's argument, stating, “Accountability must apply to all or none at all. At the heart of this impeachment proceeding lies a fundamental question for all of us — can we continue to trust one of the highest constitutional offices to a public official who, on multiple occasions, purposely, and willfully, and repeatedly resorted to threats of violence against the very institutions that she swore to uphold and protect?” His remarks underscored the importance of accountability and transparency in public office. Defensor hails from a prominent political family in Iloilo. The Defensor dynasty has been a fixture in the province's elective politics since the 1990s. His father, Arthur Defensor Sr., was a vocal critic of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos dictatorship and served in various capacities after the EDSA Revolution, including as education undersecretary. His brother, Arthur Defensor Jr., currently serves as the Governor of Iloilo. Lorenz Defensor himself entered politics by winning a seat on the provincial board in 2016, later succeeding his brother as the representative for Iloilo’s 3rd District in 2019. He is currently serving his third and final term as a congressman. Among his legislative priorities, he has primarily authored proposals for a P200 daily wage increase for private sector minimum wage earners, a ban on naming public infrastructure after elected officials within five years of their death, the inclusion of constitutional studies in the senior high school curriculum, and strengthening the Commission on Human Rights. Defensor was also a known supporter of former Vice President Leni Robredo, having joined her campaign events in 2022. His role in the current impeachment trial places him at the center of a critical juncture for accountability and the balance of power within the Philippine political landscape.