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Senator-judges can’t be gagged during VP Sara’s trial, says senator-elect
Senator-judges are not yet subject to a gag order regarding public comments on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, according to impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol.
Tongol stated that preliminary discussions and the freedom to express opinions are beneficial for understanding the democratic impeachment process.
Incoming Senator Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson clarified that only the senator-judges themselves, not the presiding judge, can decide to refrain from making public comments on the trial's issues.
Lacson added that the senator-judges could agree amongst themselves not to make public comments on impeachment issues.
This clarification follows a request from congressmen-prosecutors for Senate President Francis G. Escudero to remind senators against making opinionated statements.
Tongol previously mentioned that Rule 18 of the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials, prohibiting public comments on the merits, would be applied sparingly.
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Vice President Sara Duterte argued that senators should not be disqualified from impeachment trials due to political bias and suggested Senator Risa Hontiveros should recuse herself if such bias existed.
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Former Supreme Court associate justice Adolfo Azcuna warned that the House of Representatives' delay in accepting the remanded articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte could cause the impeachment trial to fail.
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The House prosecution panel may resort to the Supreme Court as a final measure if the Senate decides to dismiss Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case without a trial.
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Senate impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol has denied accusations from House prosecution panel spokesperson Antonio Bucoy that he was "lawyering" for Vice President Sara Duterte.
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The Senate impeachment court will proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio even if she does not respond to the writ of summons, with failure to file an answer meaning she waives her right to present a defense.
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