Santiago calls court critics kibitzers, 'know-it-alls'

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

MANILA -- Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago lashed out Wednesday at kibitzers second-guessing a Senate ruling to exclude testimony from a Philippine Airlines (PAL) executive that the prosecution meant to show that Chief Justice Renato Corona received perks while PAL had a case pending with the Supreme Court.

Taking the floor at the start of the 22nd trial day, Santiago said she supports Enrile's ruling. "In fact, I insist on it," she said.

She said that under the Bill of Rights, Corona has a right to due process, which includes the right to be informed "of the nature and cause of the accusations against him." With no mention on bribery on Article 3 of the impeachment complaint, Santiago said allowing the prosecution to try to prove that would deprive the impeached Chief Justice of that right.

She said even if evidence is strong, a respondent cannot be convicted on a ground that has not been alleged.

"A substantial defect in the Information, cannot be cured by evidence," she said.

Santiago then lashed out at sawsaweros (meddlers) and "know-it-alls" who feel they know more about the law than lawyers and judges. Santiago is a former trial court judge and has been elected as a judge on the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. "There are so many kibitzers being critical even if their criticism has no basis in law," she said.

Santiago also lashed out at unnamed people who have criticized the court for dwelling on technicalities. "The law is a body of technicalities. That is why it will take four years, and a year for the bar--a total of nine years--to know the technicalities of the law," she said.

She said that if critics want to act like lawyers, they should enroll in law school first. (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)