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Atty. Sheila Sison Biography: Education, Legal Career and the Duterte Impeachment Defense
Sheila C. Sison is a Filipino litigation lawyer and partner at the Manila law firm Fortun Narvasa & Salazar who became a nationally recognized figure in 2026 as the lead defense counsel for Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte in her Senate impeachment trial.
Largely unknown outside legal circles before the trial began, she drew wide attention for opening the defense by questioning the constitutionality of the House impeachment complaint against Duterte.
Profile
| Full name | Sheila C. Sison |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Atty. Sheila Sison |
| Born | 1976 |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Occupation | Litigation lawyer, law firm partner |
| Law firm | Fortun Narvasa & Salazar, Makati City |
| Admitted to the Philippine Bar | 2014 |
| Education | B.A. Communication Arts, University of the Philippines Los Baños; LL.B., San Sebastian College of Law–Recoletos |
Early Life and Education
Sison’s birth year is confirmed by her law firm’s own biography, but her hometown, parents and other early-life details have not been publicly disclosed.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts, majoring in Writing, from the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
She then studied law at San Sebastian College of Law–Recoletos, where she was a full academic scholar of the Recoletos Order, a consistent Dean’s Lister, and graduated as class valedictorian.
She was also the first recipient of the Academic Excellence Medal of Honor, awarded by the Recoletos Educational Apostolate of the Philippines. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2014.
Legal Career
Sison is a partner at Fortun Narvasa & Salazar (FNS), a Makati-based law firm, where her practice covers criminal litigation, civil litigation, family law, appellate practice, labor law, mining law and corporate law.
According to her firm, she has successfully defended clients in numerous cases before the Sandiganbayan, the Philippines’ anti-graft court.
She was named the firm’s Lawyer of the Year for five consecutive years, from 2015 to 2019, which FNS describes as a record within the firm. She is also a member of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc.
Lead Counsel in the Duterte Impeachment Trial
Sison’s national profile rose sharply after she was named lead defense counsel for Vice President Sara Duterte when the Senate impeachment trial opened in July 2026. She leads a 16-lawyer defense team, most of whose members are also affiliated with FNS.
On the trial’s opening day, she immediately raised the constitutionality of the impeachment process initiated by the House of Representatives, an intervention that drew notice from observers who described her courtroom manner as calm, composed and sharp. As of late September 2026, the impeachment trial remained ongoing in the Senate.
Fact-Checked Claim About Her Family
In July 2026, posts circulated on Facebook and TikTok claiming Sison was the daughter of Jose C. Sison, the veteran lawyer and host of the television legal-drama anthology Ipaglaban Mo!. Fact-checking organizations VERA Files and Rappler both found this false. Jose Sison had written in his own newspaper columns, in 2016 and again in 2024, that he had five sons and one daughter, Joyce, who had already died; there is no public record connecting Sheila Sison to his family. One version of the false claim gathered more than 300,000 reactions on Facebook before it was debunked.
FAQ
What case is Atty. Sheila Sison known for?
She is best known as the lead defense counsel for Vice President Sara Duterte in her 2026 Senate impeachment trial.
Is Sheila Sison related to lawyer Jose C. Sison of Ipaglaban Mo!?
No. Fact-checkers VERA Files and Rappler confirmed this widely shared claim is false.
What is Sheila Sison’s educational background?
She holds a communication arts degree from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and a law degree from San Sebastian College of Law–Recoletos, where she graduated class valedictorian.
Sources
- Fortun Narvasa & Salazar Law — Sheila C. Sison
- Rappler — FACT CHECK: VP Sara’s counsel Sheila Sison not the daughter of lawyer Jose Sison
- VERA Files — Sara Duterte’s lead counsel NOT daughter of Ipaglaban Mo host Jose Sison
- Daily Tribune — Who is Atty. Sheila Sison?
- Daily Tribune — Meet the ‘fierce litigator’ leading VP Duterte’s defense team
Last updated: 23 September 2026.
Zeez is the editor and founder of BioOrbit, where he researches and writes biographies of public figures from Nigeria and around the world. With 5 years of experience writing about news, entertainment, sports and politics, Zeez focuses on verified facts, clear sourcing and regular updates. Found an error? Report a correction.
