Santiago berates prosecution for dropping charges vs Corona

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago berated the prosecution team on Wednesday for dropping some of their charges against Chief Justice Renato Corona and at one point, called “silly” those who declared that they have won the case against the chief justice.

Instead of making manifestations before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, Santiago noted how some participants in the trial have engaged in public discourse.

“That’s contempt of court!” the angry senator said.

“The arrogance of those who speak like that. How foolish. My goodness,” Santiago said in Filipino.

Santiago stood up to clarify from the prosecution team if they were withdrawing the five of eight articles in the impeachment complaint or if they were just simply waiving their rights to present evidence for the five articles.

If they are withdrawing the five charges, then Santiago said , the prosecutors would have to return the complaint to the House of Representatives to amend it.