Defense, prosecution lawyers get tongue lashing for 'snubbing' senator

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

SENATOR Miriam Defensor-Santiago lashed out at lawyers at the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona on Wednesday for arguing when she wanted to speak.

She told them only she and her fellow senators had the right to scream in the court room.

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The tirade was set off by private prosecutor Arthur Lim and defense lawyer Serafin Cuevas arguing on whether Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares should be allowed to testify on the authenticity of tax records being presented to the court.

Lim said Henares should be allowed, if only to say that the records that she had brought to court were genuine. Cuevas said, however, that this was not necessary, and that Henares could have just certified the documents from the comfort of her office. He said Henares would not be able to testify to the accuracy of the content in the tax documents since, as head of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, she was not involved in verifying tax declarations.

Cuevas said the defense would admit that the tax documents were authentic, just to make the proceedings go faster.

Santiago, who had been waiting to be recognized, then lost her temper and castigated the lawyers for arguing despite her "standing (there) for five minutes."

She said she was being treated like a "mere observer" as the two lawyers kept talking.

"Do not drown me out by screaming in this courtroom. Only I can scream here and my fellow judges!" the high-strung senator said.

This was followed by a tirade on why Henares should not have to testify when all she can testify on is the authenticity of the documents.

"You're saying the Chief Justice stole money. Then prove that," Santiago told the prosecutor in Filipino.

Her ranting prompted Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who apologized for not noticing her waiting to be recognized, to suspend the trial.

Before this, Santiago also scolded Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. for failing to answer a question she asked him.

Santiago had asked the lead prosecutor whether Henares would be an attesting officer, or an expert witness. Tupas tried to consult with a private prosecutor but was cut off by Santiago, who said "You should know that."

Tupas answered Henares would be an ordinary witness. As an ordinary, and not an expert witness, Henares would only be allowed to testify on things that she personally knew. An expert witness can be asked hypothetical questions, Santiago explained.

On Tuesday, Santiago also scolded Tupas for failing to give an exact number of witnesses that the prosecution planned to present to the court.

Santiago, known for her sharp tongue, came back from medical leave Tuesday saying she had been watching the trial and that she found the proceedings boring.

She said if it had not been her duty as a senator to sit in the impeachment court, she would rather "dive in the Bermuda Triangle and possibly get lost."

She was on medical leave for hypertension. (Sunnex)