Respect court rules, Senator Escudero asks parties involved in Corona trial
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has called on all parties involved in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona to give due respect to the Senate as an impeachment court by observing its rules.
Section 18 of the rules of procedure on impeachment trials provides that senator-judges, prosecutors, the person impeached and counsel, including witnesses “shall refrain from making any comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial.”
Escudero noted that the rules did not use the word ‘prohibited’ and did not also provide a penalty for any violation of the rules.
“Bagaman hindi bawal, bagamat walang penalty sana iwasang gawin nyan at magkarooon ng tamang respeto sa impeachment rules (While it is not prohibited and while there’s no penalty, let’s refrain from doing that and let’s respect the impeachment rules,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.
The senator said commenting on the merits of the impeachment case, while it was not strictly prohibited, would still be a violation of the rules.
“Essentially they are violating the rule. If it’s not a prohibition, they are still violating the rules. It’s up to the Senate as an impeachment court to decide on what to do in case this persists,’ said Escudero.
He refused to say, however, if the public disclosure of documents by the chief prosecutor, Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr, showing that Corona allegedly owned a high-end apartment in Taguig City, was a violation of the rules, saying he would leave it up to the Senate to decide on the matter.
“I don’t want to pre-empt the impeachment court. Only the impeachment court could say if they violated the rules. I’m just reminding a provision in our rules,” said Escudero, who will sit as judge in the Corona trial.
“The rules are there for a specific reason and that’s to accord due respect to the proceeding itself and to the Senate as an impeachment court,” he pointed out.
