Escudero reminds Sara Duterte of sub judice rule in impeachment case

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero on Wednesday asked the defense panel to remind Vice President Sara Duterte about his recent ruling on sub judice which also covers her as well.

Escudero said this after House lead prosecutor and Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro said that Duterte issued a public statement earlier in the day despite the sub judice rule.

Luistro was referring to the statement of the Vice President condemning the name-calling hurled during her impeachment trial.

The Vice President said the accusations against her should be proven with evidence and not with insults, speculations, or political theatrics.

Escudero said that considering Duterte issued the statement while he was making the ruling, prospectivity would apply.

“However, the presiding officer would like to remind through the lead counsel for the respondent her client to kindly observe the ruling of the presiding officer, as well as the rules of the impeachment court, specifically Article or Rule 18 on the subject matter, in regard to making comments on the merits of the case,” he said.

“Because henceforth, again given the prospectivity of the ruling, the necessary actions will be taken against her not only by the court, but also given that she is a lawyer,” he added.

Defense lead counsel Sheila Sison took note of Escudero’s reminder.

Luistro tried to read a portion of Duterte’s statement, but was overruled by the presiding officer.

“No need. Again, I find it unacceptable and it would be commenting on the merits and no need to read it in the records. The court can take, in fact, judicial notice of that should it so desires,” Escudero said.

He also said the impeachment court will issue the corresponding guidelines regarding the sub judice rule.

On Wednesday morning, Escudero made the ruling barring senator-judges, as well as counsels of both the prosecution and the defense, from speaking on the merits of the impeachment case against Duterte.

He said the ruling is in compliance with Article 18 of the Rules on Impeachment which provides that the presiding officer, the members of the Senate, “shall refrain from making any comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial” and that “the same shall likewise apply to the prosecutors, the person impeached, and their respective counsel and witnesses." — RSJ, GMA News