February 29, 2012 · Posted in: General
Private prosecutor
cited for contempt
THE IMPEACHMENT COURT has cited for contempt a private lawyer who is part of the prosecution panel for conducting himself in a manner that the Senator-Judges found disrespectful and arrogant.
Private Prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre II was caught on camera covering his ears while Senator-Judge Miriam Defensor Santiago delivered yet another blistering tirade against the prosecution panel. At one point, Santiago even hurled an invective that had to be stricken off the record.
When confronted by Santiago and other Senator-Judges, Aguirre said that he covered his ears on purpose as a sign of protest over how Santiago had been treating members of the prosecution. Aguirre said that while they were mere prosecutors and the senators were acting as judges, everyone has to show respect in the courtroom.
“Kung mag dedemand tayo ng respeto, dapat rerespetuhin mo rin (kami)” Aguirre told the court.
Santiago had demanded that Aguirre be cited for contempt for disrespecting the court. The move was seconded by Senator-Judge Pia Cayetano.
Presiding Officer Juan Ponce Enrile said it was important that all those participating in the trial should “carry themselves according to the norms of the profession and conduct that they ought to practice in the courtroom.”
“From hereon, all concerned must take note of this – we will no longer tolerate misbehaviour like this. If you do not believe in the dignity of this court or the jurisdiction over you, if you think you are better than us, we will enforce the rules of procedure that are applicable in courts like this,” Enrile said.
13 Responses to Private prosecutor
cited for contempt
Jude Landar
February 29th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
yan talaga ang problema sa mga ibinoto nyong mga senador…akala nila sila na ang magaling sa batas kasi mga abogado sila…kaya nagkagulogulo ang pilipinas dahil dyan sa mga “bright” politicians natin…
Daniel Falcocong
February 29th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Miriam deserves it! Respect begets respect. She cannot continue to be rude to others and expect to be respected. It’s about time somebody confronted her about her abusive behavior. Too bad, her nemesis is not of equal stature to her, which makes it all the more meaningful
Edit Reply
Leslie Lofranco-Berbano
February 29th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
I wish the presiding officer had addressed his words to the lady senator. They would have fit her better!
Baby Boy Ozamiz
February 29th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
even the news programs bleeps the word GAGO. sobra na kasi. BULLY!
Nechie Velasco
February 29th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Cited for contempt for covering his ears? Miriam did the same thing when Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. was speaking in one of the hearings during the impeachment proceedings. Check out the photo: http://justiceleaks.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/miriam.jpg
sweeney cobarrubias
February 29th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
my respect to atty aguirre. madame senator “overbearing” na masyado…in the classroom maybe its ok but not on national tv
J
February 29th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Nechie Velasco: Are you kidding me? She wasn’t even covering her ears and we don’t even know if Tupas was actually speaking when she did this.
Don’t mislead the readers of this blog!
denz
February 29th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Ms nechie, i just saw the pics u sited, hey can’t u see the difference between covering the ears and just covering the cheeks, anlayo nman ng kamay ni sen santiago sa ears nia, one thing more, tupaz is not giving a speech, he’s just standing, anlayo nman ng kuha nia sa microphone…didn’t you observe the other sen, judges their facing on the other side, meaning nsa kabila side un nag sasalita….
Marilou Tan
February 29th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
The court seemed to say that its ok for d senators to disrespect the prosecutors. Can a senator ridicule, insult, raise their voice to demean a fellow human being? Miriam is too proud. The other senators who defended her are very arrogant too. She should be cited for contempt not Aguirre. She should be reprimanded by her colleagues, husband, children and relatives. She should not attend hearings in order for others not to be slapped on their faces again. Ang yabang niya. Sobra. Others are right. She deserves not to be listened to. Power has gone to her soul. Wala ng pag-asang magbago. Lets close our ears to this mentally ill senator!
nathan
March 1st, 2012 at 7:55 am
@Nechie Velasco
You’re misleading the readers of this blog… tsk tsk tsk.. You may be contempt also for making false story.. hehehehe
Marilou
March 1st, 2012 at 10:42 am
ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES!!!! …..I just witnessed injustice in court committed by senator judges. They are all behind the wrongdoing of Miriam. The birds of the same feather flock together. How can the senators file contempt charges to Aguirre when in fact its Miriam who ridiculed Aguirre? Are senators allowed to insult, raise their voices and disrespect the prosecutor? The law is unjust. “Instead for empathizing with the prosecutors, the senator judges, sided the persecutor.” I want to see Miriam and the senators apologize to the prosecutors. I think most of the senators are mentally sick like Miriam. They think they have the power to step on anybody. The senators who sided Miriam don’t deserve our votes!!!! I will campaign for their removal from office by not being voted next election. Power has gone to their soul. May they rest in peace soon for justice to prevail in our nation! …..ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES!
smart
March 3rd, 2012 at 5:57 am
The house of representatives allowed themselves to be used by the president in his quest to save hacienda luisita. for me, they’re not only gago, they are also political prostitutes.
dakila7
March 7th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
@ms. n. velasco – in fairness to miriam, aside from her hands not covering her ears – if rep. tupas is speaking then why do the other other senators are looking the other way?