MANILA, Philippines—On sick leave due to hypertension during the first week of the Corona impeachment trial, Tuesday saw a revitalized Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago tackling several issues on her first day as Senator-judge.
Speaking before the media, Santiago gave tips on what fellow Senator-judges should do so as not to be viewed as siding with the prosecution team.
“The judge cannot take over from the counsel. Trial court judges can only ask two to three questions,” she said.
She clarified her statements to the media defending Chief Justice Corona before the start of the trial should be taken off the record of the impeachment court. “It was an independent analysis by a politician,” she said, referring to herself, “there was no evidence [at the time] but now on general principles of law, I am bound by evidence.”
Reacting to a threat by the defense panel to go to the high tribunal if the Senate impeachment court will rule in favor of the prosecution, Santiago reiterated what Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile emphasized many times: The impeachment court is not under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
“They have no power over us,” she said.
For more of Senator Santiago’s statements, watch the accompanying videos from INQUIRER.net