Witness gives birth;
‘force majeure,’ says Enrile

THE MAIN WITNESS for today’s impeachment trial at the Senate failed to show up due to a very pressing engagement that no one could argue with- an engagement with the stork.

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Ayala Avenue branch manager Leonora Dizon gave birth a few hours before the start of the 17th day of the impeachment trial, said Rosario Benedicto, one of the lawyers representing the bank.

Presiding Officer Juan Ponce Enrile had just called Dizon to the witness stand to resume her testimony when there was an audible murmur from the gallery. Defense lawyer Serafin Cuevas was then heard saying, “Nanganak na yata. Wala akong kasalanan dun!”

When Benedicto told the impeachment court that Dizon had given birth this morning, Enrile said: “That’s force majeure,” or literally, a “superior force” in Latin, referring to an unavoidable or extraordinary circumstance.

Benedicto then said that another representative from BPI was already on the way to the impeachment court, and the court need not worry as the new witness “is not giving birth.”