Supporters of lawyer facing contempt gather in Senate

MANILA, Philippines – Some 40 members of the group called “Mulanay Light Bringers Club” gathered outside the Senate on Tuesday to show support for private prosecutor, Vitaliano Aguirre.

Aguirre, was cited for contempt last week by the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, when he covered his ears while Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was lecturing to the prosecution team.

The protesters, which included Aguirre’s younger sister, Naomi Aguirre-Garland, were wearing white shirts with black printed face of the private prosecutor covering his ears. Printed below the image was a phrase ”Igalang ang dignidad ng tao.” Written at the back of the shirts was “Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre, My hero.”

There were also two tarpaulins bearing the words “Suporta at pakikiisa kay [Support and unity for] Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre. Bigyan ng respeto ang dignidad ng tao [Respect the dignity of people].

The protesters, who are also townmates of Aguirre in Quezon, said they were willing to spend a night outside the Senate should the senators decide in a caucus this Tuesday noon to detain Aguirre.

Aguirre-Garland expressed her disappointment over some senators who backed Santiago’s motion to cite her brother for contempt.

“I was a bit surprised but what he did was right,” she said of the senators’ move to cite her brother for contempt.

Garland said she bore no ill-feelings towards Santiago but expressed her disgust at how the senator lectured the prosecutors.

“Yun lang yung mga sigaw-sigaw niya na hindi tama. Pare-pareho naman silang mga lawyers. Parang bata (yung mga prosecutors kung pagsalitaan nya),’ she added.