Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero warned witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday that they face potential contempt sanctions and perjury charges if caught lying under oath.
Escudero, presiding over the proceedings, issued the warning on Day 41 after Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III requested a formal reminder of the legal penalties for false testimony.
”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 confirmed the court’s authority to discipline dishonest testimony.
”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 warning follows testimony from the defense’s first witness, Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin, regarding a property allegedly omitted from Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
During the session, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson rebuked Adalin for repeatedly smirking and laughing on the stand, characterizing the behavior as disrespectful.
”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, emphasizing that the court will not tolerate proceedings being treated lightly under Senate Resolution No. 39.
The reprimand echoes a similar caution from Senator Erwin Tulfo a day prior, where he warned the same witness against treating inquiries from senator-judges as a joke or risk being cited in contempt.