Pimentel to appeal contempt ruling before SC

MANILA, Philippines –  Lawyer Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III yesterday said he would appeal before the Supreme Court the resolution of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) that cited him for contempt.

Pimentel stressed the SET ruling violated his constitutional right of free speech and information.

The SET cited Pimentel for contempt for distributing copies of its promulgated resolution to the media regarding his electoral protest against Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The SET issued the resolution on Friday ordering Pimentel to pay a P30,000 fine while denying his motion to disqualify Sen. Edgardo Angara as member of the tribunal.

“This is a matter that involves the right of the people to know,” Pimentel told the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo hotel forum in Quezon City.

The contempt order stemmed from the resolution of the SET referring the question of the 197 empty ballot boxes from the municipality of Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan province to the Commission on Elections for “appropriate action.”

Pimentel noted the dissenting opinion by SET chairman Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Carpio decided against holding Pimentel in contempt since the distribution of a promulgated ruling of the SET does not violate the sub judice rule.

Cayetano also expressed her opinion that Pimentel’s move to allow the media access to the ruling does not violate the sub judice rule as it allows fair and accurate reporting of the factual contents of ongoing judicial proceedings.

Pimentel quoted a Supreme Court ruling that public documents are “within the people’s right to information, the right to information goes hand in (hand with) the constitutional policies of full disclosures and honesty in the public service.”

“It is meant to enhance the widening role of the citizenry in government decision making as well as checking abuse in government,” Pimentel quoted the SC in a ruling.