MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel has joined the call for the Senate impeachment court to admonish its spokesperson, Atty. Reginald “Regie” Tongol, over an alleged violation of the sub judice rule.
Former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers, one of the prosecution panel’s spokespersons and advisers, said Tongol should be held to the same standard imposed on the prosecution and defense teams.
“Well, sa aking palagay dapat ma-admonish din siya, ‘no? Kasi ang sub judice rule must apply to everybody,” Barbers said during a post-hearing press conference.
Barbers was responding to Senator Raffy Tulfo’s earlier appeal for Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the presiding officer of the impeachment court, to admonish Tongol after the court spokesperson told members of the media that a verdict in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial could be reached by December 16.
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, the lead prosecutor for the House panel, also supported Tulfo’s position.
“It is highly inconceivable that the spokesperson of the impeachment court is pronouncing a lot of things of which the senator-judges themselves are not aware of,” Luistro said.
“Kung merong unang dapat makakaalam sa mga kaganapan sa impeachment trial, it should be the senator-judges,” she added.
Barbers pointed out that the sub judice rule has previously been enforced against spokespersons representing both the House prosecution and Duterte’s defense team.
He said there should therefore be no exemption for the spokesperson of the impeachment court if a similar violation is found.
“If there was indeed a violation which necessitates an admonition from the court, baka dapat gawin nila ’yan,” Barbers said.
Tulfo earlier disclosed that several people had reached out to him over the weekend to ask whether Tongol’s remarks meant the impeachment court had already prejudged Duterte’s case.
The senator also recalled that both the prosecution and defense spokespersons had been cautioned over public statements concerning the ongoing proceedings.
Escudero, however, clarified that the December 16 date mentioned by Tongol was only a mathematical projection based on the number of trial days sought by the prosecution and defense under the pre-trial order.
According to Escudero, the projected date did not reflect a decision or position by the impeachment court on when it would rule on Duterte’s case.
The presiding officer said the court would consider Tulfo’s request and take appropriate action.