Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday warned witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte that they could face contempt sanctions and separate perjury charges if found to have lied under oath.
Escudero issued the warning after Senator-judge Vicente “Tito” Sotto III asked the court to remind witnesses of the penalties for giving false testimony at the start of Day 41 of the proceedings.
“Mr. Presiding Officer, just as a reminder and perhaps to refresh my memory, is it not we have penalties and sanctions against those lying, who lie, before the impeachment court?” Sotto asked.
In response, Escudero said witnesses could be cited for contempt by the court and face separate perjury cases because their testimonies are given under oath and are covered by laws against perjury.
“They may be subject to contempt by the court. And in addition to that, may be subjected to cases of perjury should one be filed against them because the statements given by any witness is under oath and therefore covered by our laws on perjury as well,” Escudero said.
The reminder came a day after Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin, the defense's first witness, testified about a property allegedly not declared in Duterte's Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
Senator-judge Panfilo “Ping” Lacson reprimanded Adalin for repeatedly smirking and laughing while testifying, saying his behavior showed disrespect for the authority of the impeachment court.
“Yesterday was not a good day for the impeachment court simply because we had a witness who smirked, laughed, and almost made a mockery of the impeachment trial. We don't want to have a repeat of that kind of testimony,” Lacson said.
“Just a reminder to everyone that this is not an implied power of the impeachment court but an express power granted under such resolution,” he added.
Lacson also stressed that the court would not tolerate conduct that treated the proceedings as a joke, reminding those present of its authority under Senate Resolution No. 39.
A day earlier, Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo had likewise cautioned Adalin against treating questions from the senator-judges as a joke, warning that he could be cited for contempt.
