- Private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre of the Prosecution Panel team is seen rushing out the Senate Session Hall after the suspension of Day 26 of the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona
If it were up to Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre will be detained for at least a day and endure more of her speech as a punishment for contempt of the impeachment court.
“Okay na sa akin yung 24 hours na makukulong siya sa kulungan namin tapos makikinig siya sa mga speech ko,” a calmer Santiago told reporters Thursday.
Aguirre was cited in contempt by the impeachment court on Wednesday for his “disrespect” against the senator-judge.
The private prosecutor, who apparently grew tired of the her bashing, covered his ears while Santiago was hitting the prosecution team. He then demanded the senator-judge to respect them.
Aguirre has reportedly apologized but maintained that he doesn’t regret standing up against the feisty senator.
Santiago said this shows Aquirre’s “defiant attitude” toward the court. She also claimed that his actions could be a “deliberate plot” to provoke her.
“The provocation could have been intended to raise my hypertension to an even higher level, precipitating either a stroke or a heart attack. Or, the provocation could have been intended to make me deliberately lose my temper and make a spectacle of myself,” she said.
In any case, the senator-judge pointed out that she will not stop giving lectures in the court even if it means berating the lawyers, noting that it is really her “personality.”
“I very humbly submit that I have been effective in educating the public whenever I make a comment on the proceedings. The more my enemies try to persecute and intimidate me, the more I will continue with my present mode of behavior in the impeachment court,” Santiago said.
Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile defended his fellow senator-judge, saying that he can empathize with her.
“Naiintindihan ko ang frustration ni Miriam. Kapag nakikita namin yung mga kapwa namin abogado na nangangapa, frustrating iyon,” Enrile said.
The 88-year-old senator recalled that during his time there were even tougher judges and lawyers. “Talagang papahiyain ka para matuto ka,” he said.
However, if it were up to Enrile, Aguirre should be detained up to two nights but instead of feeding him with Santiago’s speeches, the Senate will serve him sashimi.
“Kung ako masusunod, matutulog siya ng dalawang gabi dito at bibigyan namin siya ng sashimi. Sobra-sobra pa sa wasabi,” Enrile said in jest.
The senator-judges will decide on Aguirre’s penalty in a caucus on March 5.
“Okay na sa akin yung 24 hours na makukulong siya sa kulungan namin tapos makikinig siya sa mga speech ko,” a calmer Santiago told reporters Thursday.
Aguirre was cited in contempt by the impeachment court on Wednesday for his “disrespect” against the senator-judge.
The private prosecutor, who apparently grew tired of the her bashing, covered his ears while Santiago was hitting the prosecution team. He then demanded the senator-judge to respect them.
Aguirre has reportedly apologized but maintained that he doesn’t regret standing up against the feisty senator.
Santiago said this shows Aquirre’s “defiant attitude” toward the court. She also claimed that his actions could be a “deliberate plot” to provoke her.
“The provocation could have been intended to raise my hypertension to an even higher level, precipitating either a stroke or a heart attack. Or, the provocation could have been intended to make me deliberately lose my temper and make a spectacle of myself,” she said.
In any case, the senator-judge pointed out that she will not stop giving lectures in the court even if it means berating the lawyers, noting that it is really her “personality.”
“I very humbly submit that I have been effective in educating the public whenever I make a comment on the proceedings. The more my enemies try to persecute and intimidate me, the more I will continue with my present mode of behavior in the impeachment court,” Santiago said.
Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile defended his fellow senator-judge, saying that he can empathize with her.
“Naiintindihan ko ang frustration ni Miriam. Kapag nakikita namin yung mga kapwa namin abogado na nangangapa, frustrating iyon,” Enrile said.
The 88-year-old senator recalled that during his time there were even tougher judges and lawyers. “Talagang papahiyain ka para matuto ka,” he said.
However, if it were up to Enrile, Aguirre should be detained up to two nights but instead of feeding him with Santiago’s speeches, the Senate will serve him sashimi.
“Kung ako masusunod, matutulog siya ng dalawang gabi dito at bibigyan namin siya ng sashimi. Sobra-sobra pa sa wasabi,” Enrile said in jest.
The senator-judges will decide on Aguirre’s penalty in a caucus on March 5.
