Erap witness escapes contempt

A retired police general who testified for the defense in deposed President Joseph Estrada’s corruption trial apologized to the court yesterday after being threatened with contempt for shouting at one of the magistrates.

"We will accept your apology at this time but we will remind you that every witness is required to give respect to the court," Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro told former chief superintendent Renato Paredes, who once headed the Philippine National Police’s Traffic Management Group.

Paredes had shouted at one of the court’s three magistrates, Justice Francisco Villaruz, while he was in a quarrel with Chief Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio, who was questioning him.

It all began when Paredes was being irked by Villa Ignacio’s questioning, claiming he could not understand the questions.

"I can’t understand your question. What do you mean? I can’t get your point," Paredes told the state prosecutor, who got irritated for having to repeat his questions.

Villa Ignacio told Paredes that a witness in court "should not ask questions" but that he should only "answer the questions."

Paredes lost his cool when Villaruz butted in. "Don’t shout at me! Don’t point your finger at me," he yelled at the top of his voice.

Villaruz shot back: "I’m not pointing a finger at you! I’m not shouting! I’m only speaking in a loud voice!"

That was when presiding justice De Castro called for a five-minute recess to cool things down.

"This is such a deplorable attitude, your honors. I have never witnessed anyone to act like this. We can’t allow such behavior," Villa Ignacio told the court and asked that Paredes be cited for contempt or indirect contempt.

But he did not pursue the matter after Paredes’ apology and because he had already got what he wanted from the former police official.

Villa Ignacio was questioning Paredes about an incident in 2000, in which Estrada’s estranged drinking buddy Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson was stopped before dawn by several traffic police officers for an alleged violation.

However, Singson suspected it was an assassination attempt to silence him and it had Estrada’s blessing. That prompted Singson to go the media and expose Estrada’s alleged illegal gambling protection racket.

Singson’s allegations resulted in Estrada’s aborted impeachment trial and a military-backed popular uprising that toppled the former movie star in early 2001.