MANILA: Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson (pic) on Tuesday (Nov 10) reminded witnesses that the Senate Impeachment Court has the power to cite them for contempt if they make a “mockery” of its proceedings.
This comes a day after the testimony of the first defence witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Davao City Assessor Engr. Jaime Adalin, who was observed laughing during the interjections of senator-judges.
“Rule 5 under Resolution No. 39… expressly grants the impeachment court the power to cite for contempt of the court anybody for that matter. Yesterday was not a good day for the impeachment court, Mr. President, Mr. Presiding Officer, simply because we had a witness who smirked, who laughed and almost made a mockery of the impeachment trial,” Lacson said.
“And we don’t want to have a repeat of that kind of testimony. So just a reminder to everyone that this is not an implied power of the impeachment court, but an expressed power granted by such resolution,” he added.
Senate Resolution No. 9 refers to the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trial, which governs the Senate’s powers over impeachment proceedings.
Presiding officer Francis Escudero also said witnesses who lie before the impeachment court may be cited for contempt, after Senator-judge Vicente Sotto III asked for a refresher on the penalties and sanctions for perjury.
“They may be subject to contempt by the court and, in addition to that, may be subjected in cases of perjury should one be filed against him before the proper prosecutor’s office and/or courts of law because the statements given by witnesses are under oath,” Escudero explained. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
