Padilla objects to audience interruption during Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Senator-judge Robin Padilla on Wednesday objected to audience comments during Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, prompting the presiding officer to restore order in the chamber.

Padilla appeared irritated when he was allegedly interrupted while making a manifestation urging the House prosecution panel not to list witnesses who were facing perjury complaints.

“Presiding officer, bawal ang ginagawa ng nasa harap natin na nagkokomento. Hindi sila allowed mag-ingay, korte po ito,” the senator-judge said.

(Presiding officer, they are making comments. They are not allowed to make noise. This is a court.)

“I was interrupted,” he added.

Padilla’s remarks prompted presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero to direct the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to maintain order inside the plenary.

In response to Padilla, private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan, who was seated in the front row, issued an apology.

"May I take this opportunity to apologize to senator-judge Robin, there was no intent to disrespect him. It is an instinctive reaction. Sabi mo, magkaibigan tayo, forgive na lang, hindi na kami uulit dyan," Kapunan said in a press briefing after the trial.

Day 8 of Duterte’s impeachment trial centered on the defense’s continuing cross-examination of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, who was presented as the last witness of the prosecution for Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment.

The article concerns the Vice President’s alleged grave threats and assassination plot targeting President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and ex-House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Matibag was questioned on the special task force the NBI created to investigate Duterte’s alleged threats, as well as the supposed continuing threat against the President.

The prosecution, for its part, presented the affidavit of alleged Davao Death Squad hitman Arturo Lascañas as part of Matibag’s testimony.

Padilla questioned Lascañas’ credibility, asking if an individual who provides different statements can be called a “liar.” He likewise alleged that NBI officials Jeremy Lotoc and John Mark Calilung, who previously testified in the trial, were facing perjury complaints.

“Bilang pakiusap sa prosecution, puwede po ba na maiwasan natin ang pagbibigay ng witness na may kasong perjury?” he added.

(We appeal to the prosecution to avoid presenting witnesses with perjury complaints.)

House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro took exception to Padilla’s remarks and said the prosecution verified the alleged complaints filed against their witnesses.

“With all due respect to the Honorable Senator-judge Padilla…we were able to verify already that there are no pending cases against the prosecution’s witnesses,” Luistro said.

"In addition, conviction is not ground for disqualification unless it is final and it is punishable by more than one year and that the crime constitutes moral turpitude," she added.

Padilla, in response, said, "Napakaganda ng inyong sagot, sana hindi one-sided ang ating prosecution kasi alam ninyo, pag pabor sa inyo....."

(That was a very good answer. I just hope our prosecution is not being one-sided because, as you know, when it's in your favor....)

Time limit

Meanwhile, Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo questioned why longer times were seemingly afforded to the minority senators.

“Bakit kapag sa kabila, pinapayagan sila na 5 to 10 minutes, bakit kapag sa amin sa majority, kina-cut agad pagdating ng two minutes? I think, nakakahalata na kami. Kapag sinabing two minutes, dapat two minutes,” Tulfo said.

(Why is the court allowing Minority senators to continue for 5-10 minutes while majority senators were being immediately reminded when we reach our two-minute limit? It’s now obvious to us. If we have a two-minute limit, then it should be imposed on everyone.)

Escudero explained there was no majority or minority bloc when the Senate convened as an impeachment court and ordered the Senate secretariat to be consistent in reminding senator-judges of their time limit. —LDF, GMA News