No minis, T-shirts and other don’ts in Senate spectacular

Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Women wearing miniskirts and men in T-shirts and scuffed jeans will not be allowed in the gallery during the upcoming impeachment spectacular in the Senate.

Sticking propaganda messages on attires is a no-no.

A dress code for spectators and journalists was one of the measures Senate officials outlined Thursday for  Monday’s opening of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s trial—the first since the aborted impeachment proceedings in 2001 against then President Joseph Estrada that led to his ouster in a People Power uprising.

“This is to preserve the dignity of the impeachment trial,” said Valentina Cruz, the Senate spokesperson.

25 seats for seniors

Like a blockbuster movie in a cramped cinema, the trial in the Senate will accommodate only 175 private individuals, including 25 senior citizens, who would be allowed to watch the action live from the 361-seat gallery of the session hall.

Many of the seats have already been allotted to the staff of senator-judges, House prosecutors and defense lawyers.

The Senate’s media services director, Samuel Y. Santos, said only 40 seats had been allotted for newspapers, radio and TV stations covering the event.

Santos said the slots would be raffled off if more journalists showed up.

Senate Sergeant at Arms Retired Brig. Gen. Jose V. Balajadia said all tickets for private viewers would be distributed at the police outpost in front of the pedestrian gate of the Senate entrance.

On silent mode

“We will give tickets starting 11 a.m.  We advise everybody to line up early because (the distribution) would be a first-come-first-served basis,” Balajadia said.

The session hall would be closed at exactly 2 p.m. when the trial begins.

Senior citizens are advised to bring ID cards, preferably the ones with their birthday indicated, if they wish to avail themselves of the 25 slots allotted to them in the gallery.

“Some senior citizens look like they’re only 40 years old,” Balajadia said at the weekly Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday. “Some of them look young.  So if you’re a young-looking senior, please bring your ID,” he said.

Balajadia stressed that all cell phones of spectators should be turned off once they enter the session hall.

“Media can use their cell phones but please put them on silent (mode). And talking on the cell phones while the trial is going on (is prohibited). Because the conversations would be heard by senator-judges,” he explained.

Texting by reporters “is OK,” Balajadia said.

All persons, whether private individuals or journalists, “can be evicted” if they are caught taking photos or videos of the impeachment proceedings, which is expected to be covered live by TV and radio networks.

Denims OK if not torn

No one wearing shorts, undershirts or slippers will be allowed in the session hall, Cruz said.

Reporters are required to cover the trial in “appropriate attire.”

Men are expected to wear “slacks, pants and suit pants” as well as “collared short or long-sleeved shirts.”

Denim jeans can also be worn as long as these are not faded, torn or “worn with rugged shirts.”

Women can also wear slacks and business suits as well as casual dresses if the hem is “knee-length or below the knee.”

Sleeveless blouses should be worn with a cardigan, Cruz stressed.

Anthony Samonte, the Senate’s security support director, warned that shirts bearing “propaganda” messages, pins and other paraphernalia would not be allowed inside the session hall.

“Guests will also be restricted to designated areas and will not be allowed to roam around,” Samonte said.

All the rules aren’t just for the show’s entertainment value, but more to emphasize the strength of a democratic institution.