MANILA, Philippines – Mahigpit na ipinagbawal ni Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian ang sinumang antukin o natutulog habang nanonood ng impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Sa halip manood sa loob ng session hall, hinikayat ni Gatchalian ang publiko na sundan ang impeachment trial ni Vice President Duterte, pero mas mainam nang manatili at manood sa bahay ang mga inaantok para hindi na makatulog sa loob ng session hall.
“If they’re sleepy, they shouldn’t come. They can sleep at home and watch the proceedings on TV. It doesn’t look good to attend the impeachment court proceedings and then sleep there.
They can just watch from home if they’re feeling sleepy, and so they won’t be reminded or nudged inside the court,” pahayag ni Gatchalian sa panayam sa dzBB nitong Linggo.
“Even in a normal court, you do not go there to sleep. You’re also not allowed to sleep there. And also, [not sleeping inside the court] is a sign of respect for the court,” dagdag niya.
Naalala ang insidente noong Lunes nang makuhanan ng larawan si Rep. Bienvenido Abante na natutulog sa VIP section ng Senate session hall habang sumasagot sa mga tanong si Rendell Sopeña, division chief ng Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System o PhilGEPS.
Dahil dito, pinakiusapan ni Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero sina dating Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers at prosecutor Rep. Lorenz Defensor na “kindly nudge Cong Benny a bit.”
“It seems he’s tired. He may want to rest somewhere, but at least not right behind the witness,” sabi ni Escudero.
Biro naman ni lead public prosecutor at Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro: “I think he’s praying for us.” Sagot naman ni Escudero: “I doubt that. It’s been a long day, I guess.”
Sa panayam naman ng mga reporter, tumawa si Abante at sinabi: “I fell asleep at 2 a.m. this morning, so I fell asleep a little.”
“You’ll really feel sleepy because of the questions from the defense lawyers…it’s nice to listen, but when [the questions] become boring, you’ll get sleepy,” aniya. Ernie Reyes
