Senate impeachment court presiding officer Sen. Chiz Escudero is drafting a ruling, warning or order on possible violations by counsels in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, after saying one side has repeatedly crossed the line in its public statements.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Escudero said he ordered the clerk of court to monitor social media posts and other public remarks from both the prosecution and defense amid concerns that counsels were discussing matters related to the pending trial.
“I asked the clerk of court to monitor the public statements of the counsels of the parties this past week, and one side has been crossing the line many, many times,” Escudero said.
Escudero said he is preparing a ruling, warning and order on possible violations of Rule 18 of the impeachment rules, which prohibits senators, prosecutors, the respondent, counsels and witnesses from publicly discussing the merits of an ongoing trial.
The issue surfaced after defense lead counsel Sheila Sison questioned a social media post by private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan following a courtroom exchange involving lawyers Katherine Ferrer and Lorna Kapunan.
Ligutan posted, “A principle ALL lawyers and law students know by heart: Misleading questions are NOT allowed even on cross-examination.”
Ligutan said the post was not made with malice and argued that misleading questions are prohibited under the Rules of Court.
Escudero said Ligutan and the defense panel would be allowed to explain their respective positions before the Senate court issues its ruling.
“But be advised, again we have it all on tape. We have been monitoring everything. We may not enumerate it one by one, but we will make the corresponding ruling on Monday.”
The Senate impeachment court is expected to issue further guidance on lawyers’ public commentary when proceedings resume Aug. 17.
