Lawyer’s antics send Santiago blood pressure soaring
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was forced yesterday to leave the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona early after her blood pressure shot up to 180/90 while giving private prosecutor Arthur Lim another dressing down.
Santiago accused Lim of engaging her in “colloquy,” something she said nonelected officials were barred from doing. She was also irked by Lim’s habit of raising his voice, talking simultaneously with her, and phrasing his questions in a verbose manner.
The senator, who missed last week’s hearings because of hypertension, left after a doctor took her blood pressure, said her media officer, Tom Talibas.
Santiago initially asked Lim whether the prosecution was accusing Corona of violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act under Article 2 of the impeachment complaint.
This was apparently because the specific article accused Corona of failure to file his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and alleged noninclusion of assets in the SALN which was not related to graft.
“Your honor,” Lim’s tirade began. “Please, to answer the question … may I be permitted to point out, first of all…”
“What do you have to point out,” Santiago cut in. “Answer! Yes or no? I am tired of hearing your voice!”
‘Presumption of literacy’
Lim was about to speak when the senator cut him again.
“Do not override me! We’ve already heard that of your pleadings! Do not be sententious because every hour counts! Just tell us whether the respondent is being asked to answer charges under the antigraft (law). Yes or no,” the senator barked.
“It says here in the complaint that there is violation of the antigraft (law),” Lim replied.
“I can read! Give me the presumption of literacy! And don’t ever overstep yourself. Do not engage in the court with me,” Santiago said, shouting.
“You are not supposed to discuss or argue during an impeachment trial. Especially when you are speaking to an impeachment judge,” she said.
“Can we answer the questions, your honor,” Lim pleaded with the presiding officer, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. “The way we feel it should be answered?”
“No,” Santiago thundered. “You should answer according to the rules of court as determined by the Senate acting as an impeachment court! That is the rule here.”
Impertinent answer
Lim then challenged Santiago to cite the specific rule “for our guidance.”
“This is the end of this colloquy,” Santiago noted. “How dare you raise questions to my authority? Be careful because I might request my colleagues to inhibit you and disqualify you from appearing here.”
Enrile finally intervened, telling Lim that “parliamentary tradition” barred “nonelected” individuals—private prosecutors—from arguing with elected members of Congress.
“You cannot engage in what the law calls a colloquy with me. You cannot engage in a discussion or in an argumentation with me. I’m a judge, I preside here,” she explained.
The senator then asked Lim how many years had he been a trial lawyer, adding she heard that the prosecutor only specialized in maritime law.
Lim replied he had been engaged “in everything” for the past 42 years.
“What an impertinent answer! Let me go to the point because I might lose my temper with you,” Santiago fumed.
