Quilisadio: Censured!

Monday, February 6, 2012

SENATOR Miriam Defensor Santiago should inhibit herself from the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. She is not fit to be a senator-judge.

She is despotic, tyranical, dictatorilal and abusive senator-judge. She thinks the impeachment court is her kingdom or fiefdom where she is the queen and she reigns supreme. She thinks she is better than anyone else and without peers (walang kapares).

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

How else can you explain her behavior in asking the private prosecutor, Arthur Lim, about the latter's practice and special field of law and later scolded, insulted, humiliated and embarrassed him? What is the relevance or materiality of this question?

Atty. Lim and his practice is not at issue. What is at issue is whether Chief Justice Renato Corona declared all his properties in his SALN.

What makes her think she is better than anyone else and without peers?

For all we know, any of the lawyers appearing before the impeachment court can be a better senator-judge than she is if given the opportunity. It just so happens that she is a sitting senator-judge now. That should be her attitude and the attitude of all judges for that matter.

Moreover, there was a provision in the Old Rules of Court (Rule 132, Sec. 19) that said that a witness is entitled to be protected from irrelevant, immaterial and insulting questions, and harsh and insulting demeanor not only from the counsels but also from the judges.

While this rule is no longer found in the New Rules of Court, it is self-evident that witnesses should be given this kind of protection otherwise, they will shun the courtrooms.

If witnesses are entitled to this protection, with more reason should lawyers be.

Lawyers are not school children to be scolded and insulted. What Senator Santiago is doing is intimidating the prosecution.

Intimidated, the prosecution may not be able to present its evidence against Chief Justice Corona. We know where her sympathies lie and they are showing. She should inhibit herself as a Senator-Judge or should be censured by the Impeachment Court for her behavior.