Counsel: VP to try to comply with sub judice rule

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte “will try to comply” with the sub judice rule issued by impeachment court presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero, according to her counsel.

Paolo Panelo, counsel of Duterte in her perjury complaint against alleged bagman Ramil Madriaga, issued the reaction after Escudero reminded the Vice President that she is covered by the impeachment court’s two-strike policy on sub judice.

“I think she will try to comply with the ruling of the Senate impeachment court because that’s the criticisms against her, that she didn’t face the impeachment,” Panelo said.

“She faced it, her lawyers are there, she’s answering the question, her legal team is participating. Since she participated, I think she will try to comply with the directive of the Senate impeachment court,” Panelo said.

Escudero has ruled that the sub judice rule will be strictly enforced during the impeachment trial as he warned of public reprimand and admonition on the first offense and a P30,000 fine on the second.

In his lengthy ruling read in open court, Escudero warned the prosecution – both the public and private panels – and the defense teams that they could face contempt of court if they violated the sub judice rule.

“This rule is archaic, especially for public interest cases like this, impeachment. The counsels on both sides should really engage the media to explain to the people what happened,” Panelo added.

While letting go of past lapses, Escudero warned that lawyers found breaking the rule may be referred to the Supreme Court or the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for disciplinary action.

“Our opponent here is the unseen hand behind the shadows, the one trying to influence the outcome of the case. The antidote is going to the media and telling the people the merits of your case. That’s what both sides should be doing,” Panelo added.

Escudero said referrals will be based on the violations and breaches of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) standards of courtesy, civility, fairness, candor or dignified language.

Senators back ruling

Sens. Erwin Tulfo and Juan Miguel Zubiri backed the strict enforcement of the sub judice rule imposing fines on the prosecution and defense and an ethics complaint on senators.

“The merits of this case must be fought and decided before the impeachment court, based on the evidence presented before us, not through sound bites, press conferences or competing narratives in the court of public opinion,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri also welcomed the court’s ruling to forgive the parties who had violated the sub judice rule and for the ruling to be applied prospectively or on succeeding offenses with a fine of P30,000.

Speaking to radio dwIZ, Tulfo said even senators should temper their language and be careful with their public statements about the trial.

Tulfo said judges should also listen to the sentiment of netizens after his brother Sen. Raffy Tulfo called hostile witness former Office of the Vice President disbursing officer Gina Acosta “stupid in the name of blind loyalty.”

Tulfo renewed his call for Col. Raymond Lachica to testify so that the senator judges can make a fair ruling and hear Lachica’s reason.

“We want to hear from the horse’s mouth,” Tulfo said.

Meanwhile, the House prosecution panel has appealed for leniency in the imposition of the sub judice rule.

Prosecution panel adviser and spokesman Ace Barbers said some flexibility in the rule could help the public understand the proceedings while respecting the boundaries set by the court. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Daphne Galvez