MANILA, Philippines–The impeachment court should admonish not only the prosecutors but even the defense team for violations of rules when they publicly discussed the merits of the case against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Tuesday.
Senator Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
“As a senator judge, I cannot sit idly by and watch blatant violations of our Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials that unambiguously prohibits senator judges as well as prosecutors, the person impeached, their counsels, and witnesses from making any comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial,” Lacson, who is sitting as judge in the impeachment trial, said in a statement.
“If we allow such undisciplined public presentation of evidence by any party in utter disregard of the ethics of their legal profession to continue, the Senate may lose control of the situation and I am certain it will damage not just the Senate as an impeachment court but the sacredness of the whole impeachment process as well,” he said.
“We should not allow such mockery to go unchecked. Either we throw our impeachment rules out of the window or straight to their faces,” Lacson added.
The senator issued the statement after chief prosecutor, Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. presented documents at a press conference on Monday about a property in Taguig City allegedly owned by Corona, which could be used as evidence against him.
The public presentation of evidence outside the impeachment court, Lacson said, is prohibited under the rules.
“Yes, rules are there to be followed,” he said when asked if Tupas could be penalized by the court.
” In the meantime, a general admonition may be proper. Tupas is not the only one. The defense team has similar violations,” Lacson added.