Seares: How to deal with Miriam Santiago

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

THERE are ways for lawyers to avoid the wrath of senator-judge Miriam Defensor Santiago at the Corona impeachment trial: (1) don't pull a trick she'd catch; (2) be prepared, do the homework; and (3), failing in both, don't show your face when she's in the courtroom.

Tuesday, day 17 of the trial, Santiago went ballistic against prosecutors for using an apparently fake bank document to secure subpoenas against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona's bank deposits.

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The sins, said Santiago, included getting the fake document from a dubious source, using it to secure a subpoena, and relying on rumors and media reports for their moves.

Santiago warned the lawyers of possible disbarment. The scathing verbal abuse alone, unleashed on national TV against the prosecutors, was cruel and unusual punishment.

Did you see the House prosecutors trying not to wince as the torture went on?

"Cretins"

Santiago has skipped a number of trial days because of a chronic fatigue syndrome from what doctors call hyphothyroidism. She easily tires, especially when she gets "hyperventilated" as lawyers and others in the courtroom must notice when her voice rises a decibel or two and she peppers her speech with such insults as "cretins" and cowards.

Lawyers and other members of the trial, including presiding senator-judge Juan Ponce Enrile, have been patient with Santiago, bearing her excesses like stoic Holy Week flagellants.

Imagine if one of them would snap and fight. Wouldn't that be interesting, if anyone of the wimps she terrorized would talk back?

(paseares@sunstar.com.ph or @gmail.com)