MANILA, Philippines – Pinagbawalan ng Senate impeachment court ang mga senator-judge, maging ang mga counsel ng prosekusyon at depensa sa pagsasalita sa merito ng impeachment case laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
Sinabi ni Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero na ang ruling ay pagtugon sa Article 18 ng Rules on Impeachment na nagsasabing ang presiding officer, at mga miyembro ng Senado “shall refrain from making any comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial” and that “the same shall likewise apply to the prosecutors, the person impeached, and their respective counsel and witnesses.”
“The Chair hereby strictly enjoins all persons covered by Rule 18, you know who you are, and based on the records, we know who you are, from making public statements or otherwise discussing, sharing, or endorsing comments pertaining to the merits of this pending impeachment trial, and from engaging in trial by publicity, as they directly threaten the court, degrade the dignity of the tribunal and risk turning it into a circus, and weaponize the media to substitute public outrage for actual evidence,” dagdag pa niya.
“This rule exists to balance the public’s right to information on matters of public concern with the need to protect the integrity of the proceedings from public prejudgment.”
Ani Escudero, susundin ng korte ang two-strike rule.
Aniya, ang unang opensa ay parurusahan ng “severe public reprimand” at “stern admonition” sa open court, at ilalagay ng permanente sa rekord bilang final warning.
Ang mga gagawa ulit nito ay pagmumultahin ng P30,000.
“Each subsequent violation of Rule XVIII shall be punished the same way as a 2nd offense, a fine of Thirty Thousand Pesos (P30,000.00),” ayon kay Escudero.
Kung ang sangkot naman ay miyembro ng Bar, ang insidente ay ipadadala at magkakaroon ng formal referral sa Office of the Bar Confidant, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), o Korte Suprema para sa disciplinary sanction kaugnay sa license to practice ng sangkot.
Ani Escudero, ang ruling ay prospective, at nangangahulugan na sakop lamang nito ang mga pahayag matapos ianunsyo ang ruling ngayong Miyerkules, Agosto 26.
“With respect to prior statements or conduct covered by Rule 18, the court shall extend grace, exercise liberality, and wipe the slate clean, tabula rasa so to speak. From this point forward, however, Rule 18 shall be strictly enforced and be given full force and effect.”
Sa kabila nito, sinabi ni Escudero na ang spokesperson ng kapwa partido ay hindi sakop ng ruling at “free to say whatever they want.”
Bagamat ang mga counsel ay malayang sabihin ang factual at legal theories patungkol sa kanilang posisyon, dapat nila itong gawin sa pamamagitan ng ebidensya, reasoned argument, at court-appropriate language.
“They should not be done through expressions that prejudge disputed facts, attribute wrongdoing not yet established, cast offensive personalities upon others, or needlessly inflame the proceedings.”
“Language uttered in the presence of the court that amounts to disrespect, offensive personalities, or misbehavior that obstructs or interrupts the proceedings may, when the applicable threshold is met, be dealt with as direct contempt under the rules on impeachment,” pagtatapos ni Escudero. RNT/JGC
