SENATOR-judge Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday expressed his disappointment that the first defense witness, Engr. Jaime Adalin, allegedly mocked yesterday’s Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
Lacson made the statement after he, impeachment court Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero and Sen. Vicente Sotto lll raised concerns over the conduct of witnesses and reminded those appearing before the impeachment court that improper behavior could warrant a citation for contempt and corresponding penalties.
“Yesterday was not a good day for the impeachment court simply because we had a witness who smirked, who laughed, almost made a mockery of the impeachment trial,” Lacson said, without mentioning Adalin by name.
“And we don’t want to have a repeat of that kind of testimony,” the former Philippine National Police chief said.
He said the power to cite any misbehaving person inside the courtroom in contempt and to punish him emanates from Resolution No. 39 of the Senate impeachment court itself.
“So just a reminder to everyone that this is not an implied power of the impeachment court but an express power granted by that resolution,” he added.
Lacson’s statement followed an inquiry raised by Sotto before the start of the second day of the presentation of evidence by the defense and before the testimony of its second witness.
Addressing himself to Escudero, Sotto asked, “Just as a reminder and perhaps to refresh my memory, is it not we have penalties and sanctions against those who lie before the impeachment court?”
“Will you please refresh my memory on this matter so that the witnesses and the prosecution and the defense will be reminded as well?” he said.
In response, Escudero said, “They may be subject to contempt by the court, your honor, and in addition to that may be subjected to cases of perjury should one be filed against them before the proper prosecutor’s office and/or court of law because the statements given by any witness is under oath and is therefore covered by our laws on perjury as well.”
On the first day of the trial’s resumption yesterday, the defense presented Adalin, city assessor of Davao City, to testify on a lot purchased by Vice President Duterte’s husband Manases Carpio.
The prosecution claims such a lot and another real estate property in the Island Garden of Samal were not declared in the vice president’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
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