Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson of the House of Representatives prosecutors panel. | Philippines News Agency photo, Joan Bondoc
MANILA, Philippines – Aside from the prosecution and defense teams, senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte must also refrain from posting online content in violation of trial rules, Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said on Friday.
“Kung nanaisin po natin na iwasan po natin na ma-violate yung sub judice rule, ay sana hindi po ito maimpose lang po sa isang particular na panel tulad po sa prosecution or sa depensa. Pero sana rin po ay matalima strictly ang ating mga huwes sitting senators na mag-avoid din po sila, so any uploading or any content on social media dapat also violate the sub judice rule,” Adiong, a member of the House prosecution panel, pointed out.
(If we want to refrain from violating the sub judice rule, we hope that we don’t just impose it on just a particular panel like the prosecution or defense. But we hope that the sitting senator-judges will also abide by the rules and avoid uploading any content on social media that violates the sub judice rule.)
Last Wednesday, Senate impeachment presiding officer Francis Escudero said that he will rule on Monday regarding public statements by counsel and parties in relation to violations of Rule 18 of the impeachment rules.
