PASAY CITY—A witty exchange over comic book logic erupted during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte after prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan invoked the Man of Steel to question the physical limits of a special disbursing officer (SDO) handling confidential funds. 

Kapunan pressed Commission on Audit (COA) auditor Xylene del Campo regarding multiple acknowledgment receipts bearing identical dates across vastly different locations, firing off: "Kung hindi man Superman ang isang [special disbursing officer], kaya ba niyang puntahan, sa palagay mo, lahat na ito?"

Defense counsel Kristine Ferrer immediately objected to stop the comparison in its tracks. "The question is speculative, Your Honor," Ferrer countered.

Ferrer further added, "It’s a hypothetical question," insisting that the prosecution was steering the cross-examination into unfounded guesswork rather than sticking to verifiable facts.

Kapunan countered with a swift defense of her analogy to justify how impossible the officer’s alleged travel itinerary appeared. 

"What’s speculative about Superman? He can fly anywhere he wants to," Kapunan declared, doubling down on her point that only someone with supernatural abilities could physically be present in several locations at once on the very same date.

Presiding Officer Francis Escudero directed the prosecution counsel to wrap up the superhero reference, telling her directly, "Counsel, move on. We get your point."

Kapunan agreed to shift her line of questioning, but not before making a final plea to ensure her colorful comparison remained officially documented in the court record. 

"I will move on... Although can we ask that the Superman remain on record, Your Honor?" Kapunan requested, to which Presiding Officer Escudero reassured her, "We did not strike it off, counsel."

‍