The impeachment court will wait for the action of Senate impeachment judges regarding a reported decorum issue involving a video posted by Senator Pia Cayetano related to House Prosecutor Chel Diokno.
During the impeachment court press briefing on Tuesday, July 28, court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol said the matter would depend on the Senate impeachment judges, who have the authority to address possible violations of the Senate Impeachment Rules.
Tongol said Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” Lacson had earlier reminded the court that only the senator-judges themselves can police one another regarding any alleged breaches of conduct, particularly under Rule 18 of the Senate Impeachment Rules.
“As you know, pinalalahanan tayo ni Senator Lacson, Senator Judge Lacson, that it is only the Senator judges who can police each other regarding any violation of the rule, especially Rule 18 ng Senate Impeachment Rules,” Tongol said.
The issue stemmed from a video posted by Cayetano involving Diokno, which was later taken down. Reporters asked whether the impeachment court would take any action regarding the matter, including concerns on the conduct and decorum of senator-judges.
Tongol said the court would observe how the senator-judges would respond to the incident and whether any party would formally raise the matter before the impeachment court.
“Let's see tomorrow how the senator-judges would consider the action of the fellow senator-judge and kung may any party who will raise the matter also to the impeachment court's attention,” he added.
No formal action has been announced by the impeachment court as of the briefing.
