Tag Archives: Rudy Fariñas

Day 26 : The Contemptuous Covering of Ears (Corona Impeachment Trial)

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What seemed to be an ordinary or much lazy (since prosecution already rested their case) day in the senate impeachment court became much more exciting that can be compared to a most awaited boxing match.

Senator- Judge Miriam Defensor – Santiago erupted again caused by her disgust following yesterday’s move by the prosecution panel to terminate their presentation of evidence and dropping of 5 out of the original 8 articles of impeachment against the Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. In her speech, she lecture the prosecution on the right manner of presenting a case in court. She lashed and lamented the way the prosecution panel handled its case against the Chief Justice. For several occasions Miriam acted the same demeanor, fiesty and sour, but this day became a different story when she uttered a curse word ‘GAGO’ directed to the prosecution counsels.

Deputy lead prosecutor Rep. Rudy Farinas thereafter stood and humbly asked the good senator if that word GAGO can be stricken out of the record as it seemed in appropriate to have it in their journal to which Santiago did not object and then Sen. Enrile asked the senate secretariat to remove that word from the record.

But the aggravating circumstance came when Sen. Jinggoy Estrada stood up and asked private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre about his gesture of covering his ears while Santiago is speaking. When formally asked by Enrile to explain, Aguirre said he did it purposely because he cannot anymore contain the tongue lashing of the senator and he felt disrespected for the part of the prosecution lawyers. He said respect should be given to anyone and that if she wants to be respected she should have shown respect also to the prosecutors. That again caught the ire of Santiago and asked the court to cite him in contempt. She even went on to the place of Aguirre and lamented him for what he did, but the other senators and prosecutors immediately proceeded on the scene to appease the two.

Afterwards, Farinas stood up and spoke on behalf of the whole prosecution team asking apology for the mis demeanor of one of its members. Enrile accepted the apology but said they will have to enforce respect to the institution and its members thus citing Aguirre in contempt with penalty that will be discussed during their caucus on Tuesday.

Aguirre may be wrong in acting that way but we cannot also say that Miriam is right all the time. Yes she is a senator-judge and she ought to be respected not only for her person but for her position, but sometimes she really get over board. We know her for her feisty and strong personality but there are good ways at lecturing people (whom you think are stupid) that will not somehow degrade their dignity as a person.

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“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” – Albert Einstein

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http://www.rappler.com/nation/special-coverage/corona-trial/1931-coronatrial-day-26-with-video-highlights

Day 13: The Fariñas Relief (Corona Impeachment Trial)

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It was Day 13 of the Impeachment Trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona and this day because of the pending ruling on the motion for the subpoenas regarding Corona’s bank accounts the prosecution proceeded with the presentation of the Article 3 instead of the continuation of the Article 2.

The prosecution presented a witness from the FASAP Mr. Roberto Anduiza, who testified regarding the “flip-flopping” issue of the Supreme Court concerning their case against the Philippine Airlines (PAL). He said the Chief Justice influenced the decision resulting to the reversal of the previous decisions being made by the SC. Meanwhile the Defense postponed its cross examination saying they still need time to study the documents with regards to Anduiza’s testimony to which the prosecution objects but the presiding jusdge overruled the objection in favor of the defense.

But what’s more notable about day 13 is one of the public prosecutors and Ilocos Representative Rudy Fariñas’ comic relief during his response to senate president and presiding judge Juan Ponce Enrile’s question on the relevance of the SC’s financial records to the Article 3. Their exchange of opinions took a little while which became some sort of relief and light moments at the senate.

But the highlight of it was, when Sen. Jinggoy Estrada asked Fariñas if he signed the impeachemt complaint to which Fariñas answered no. Because according to him he wasn’t able to read the entire complaint as he was not a fast reader unlike his colleagues in the congress. And what’s really notable about Fariñas’ moment is his statement “medyo masama rin po kasi yung pagkagawa ng konti eh, hindi na ako pumirma” which ellicited laughter from the Senators and the gallery as well.

Some observers commented it was a blow to the prosecution because one of it’s prosecutors admitted that the complaint was not masterfully crafted. But the prosecution insisted that Fariñas only spoke of his observations and it doesn’t mean he dont believe in the complaint. They said what’s important is the substance and content which is strong enough to convict and strip Renato Corona of his post as Chief Justice of the land.

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“Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.” —Will Rogers

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