Prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia turned heads for clutching a wooden cross during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
On the 18th day of the trial, Filipinos noticed that the lawyer was holding a religious item while conducting a direct examination of Duterte’s assistant chief of staff, Lemuel Ortonio, a hostile witness.
The impeachment court is tackling Article I, which involves the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when Duterte was education secretary.
On Tuesday, August 25, Divinagracia was spotted clutching a wooden cross as she stood behind the podium to question Ortonio.
At least two posts about the incident appeared in a Reddit community, drawing various reactions from Filipinos.
IN PHOTOS: Atty. Divinagracia holds a wooden cross during trial
by
u/philippinestar in
Philippines
“IT BRINGS ME COMFORT, CONFIDENCE” Prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia says she always carries a wooden cross during hearings and trials.
by
u/Main_Locksmith_2543 in
Philippines
Some of the comments include:
“Well, it is a tool to fight the devil… so, there,” a Reddit user wrote.
“Panlaban sa kampon ng kasamaan at kadiliman,” another Redditor quipped.
“Dami kasing demonyo sa Senate kaya para sa protection ni Atty. Ganda,” a different Reddit user joked.
“Aba, if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and surrounded by liars, magdadala rin ako ng cross,” another Redditor quipped.
In an interview, Divinagracia said that she was holding a “comfort cross.”
“It’s what I use every time I’m… during trial,” she added.
When asked if she “always” uses it, the lawyer replied: “Every time.”
A Catholic community said that Divinagracia was holding a comfort cross featuring an image of Padre Pio or St. Pio of Pietrelcina, an Italian Capuchin friar and priest known for his deep devotion to prayer.
“Her gesture reminds us that, beyond our work and daily responsibilities, we all carry our own sources of strength. In moments of pressure, uncertainty, or challenge, we can always turn to the Lord for comfort and guidance,” Saints of Today said in a post.
A comfort cross is a small, smooth cross designed to rest naturally in the hand. It is meant to be held and felt, with rounded edges that allow the fingers to settle around it comfortably.
