Senator-judge Pia Cayetano on Thursday confronted the prosecution over its line of questioning of a defense witness, raising concerns over whether parents should be discouraged from supporting their children simply because one of them is a public official.
Cayetano made the remarks after prosecution counsel Rey Robles questioned defense witness Chadrin Parian about the P256,882.50 charged to the credit card of Atty. Manases Carpio for shoes purchased in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, allegedly for the basketball team Elite Philippines, where Carpio’s child plays.
During her interjection, Cayetano said the prosecution’s questions appeared to cast suspicion on parents who use their resources to support young athletes.
“Prosecution, I'm warning you: I will not hide my disdain. I cannot. I don’t even know where to begin,” Cayetano said.
“The way you are presenting it, you are telling law-abiding citizens like me, mothers na nagmamalasakit like me, ‘Wag ka nang mag-abala. Hayaan mo na lang ‘yung mga athlete na ‘yan.’ That’s the message that you are sending,” she added.
The senator-judge also questioned why the prosecution was asking where the students studied, raising concerns about their privacy and the potential consequences of exposing personal information amid online harassment.
“Why would you ask where the students study? I wouldn't want you to know if I had a small child where my child studies. You know how vicious people are on social media,” Cayetano said.
She emphasized that parents should be allowed to support their children's interests without fear of public criticism, particularly when it comes to sports.
“I apologize for being a bit emotional about this, but sports will save us. If people like us who have the means to help will be embarrassed to help dahil pupunahin niyo lang kami, paano na tayo?” she said.
Cayetano also asked whether the prosecution intended to discourage parents from fulfilling their responsibilities simply because one of them had become a public official.
“Is it the Prosecution's intention to make a parent relinquish their parental duty in terms of rearing their child in the manner they feel the best to promote character... just because one of the parents becomes a public official?” she asked.
Cayetano noted that she, too, had purchased shoes in support of athletes, stressing the importance of encouraging young people to participate in sports.
Robles, however, clarified that the prosecution was not questioning the practice of parents supporting their children's athletic interests.
“That is not our point, your honor. The point is our laws specifically states the appropriate manner a public official is supposed to conduct for himself or herself,” Robles said.
“We have no quarrel about a parent supporting a child's inclination for sports and help sports development,” he added.
The prosecution maintained that its questions were intended to examine whether the amount spent was appropriate under the circumstances, particularly in relation to the conduct expected of public officials.
