SENATOR-JUDGE ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(0:00:06) I think the presiding officer ruled that we will take it up later on, but if Senator-Judge Pangilinan will insist, then I have to object on a point of order. Rule 6 says, the last part, the provisions of the rules of the Senate and the revised rules of court shall apply suppletory whenever applicable. And in the rules of the Senate, whenever the senator feels threatened or anything happens, whether pinatayan ng aircon, whether may nakatutok na baril or sinaran ng pinto, he can rise on a point of personal and collective action privilege. We didn’t do that para umikli.
(0:00:50) Now, if we’re going to argue today rather than ask them about due process with a simple manifestation from Senator Padilla na hindi totoong binabastos o binabaliwala ang ombudsman, registered mail lang, kaya hindi pa nagdagdag, so hindi kami ang nagwa-waste ng time. We can have a caucus. We can talk about it. You want to debate that now?
PRESIDING OFFICER ESCUDERO:
(0:01:15) With the permission of Senator-Judge Pangilinan, to abbreviate the proceedings.
SENATOR-JUDGE PANGILINAN:
(0:01:23) May I just, Mr. President, because I was alluded to, Mr. President. May I just very quickly, Mr. President. Rule 6 on…
PRESIDING OFFICER ESCUDERO:
(0:01:28) You may proceed, sir.
SENATOR-JUDGE PANGILINAN:
(0:01:29) Thank you, Mr. President. Rule 6 of our impeachment rules, Mr. President, which was quoted by Senator Cayetano as being suppletory. Mr. President, that refers to evidence, rulings on evidence in the impeachment trial. It does not refer to privileged speeches. Therefore, the suppletory nature of the rules of court as well as the Senate rules refer to matters pertaining to evidence and no other, Mr. President.
(0:02:02) But in the spirit of liberality, we will allow that. That’s precisely why we did not object when he spoke last week. But let us not abuse the liberality of this court, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER ESCUDERO:
(0:02:15) With the permission of Senator-Judge Tulfo Erwin, the chair will make a ruling because I believe it is also his position not to prolong this matter in discussing collateral matters not pertaining to the articles of impeachment that we are hearing and trying before the impeachment court.
(0:02:34) The chair rules that the manifestation of Senator-Judge Padilla shall remain in the records. We cite as a president to the president mentioned by Senator-Judge Pangilinan, where the speech of former Senator, the late former Senator Rene Cayetano was not expunged from the record, but referred to the Senate impeachment, Senate rather, as a legislative body where it may be taken up. I ask the indulgence of the parties to this case.
(0:03:07) Wala po kasi kaming session, ito lang po ang pagkakataon na nakakapag salita at nagkikita kita kami habang nag rerecess kami, pero umaasa ako within hearing distance with my colleagues na kapag nag resume na po ang senado, sa susunod na linggo matapos ang SONA ng Pangulo, may pagkakataon na po ang bawat miyembro ng senado, bilang senador, hindi bilang Senator-Judge na mailabas yung kanilang mga hinaing o ano man ang nais nilang sabihin, kaugnay sa anumang nagaganap o nangyayaring hindi tama sa kanila o ginagawa laban sa kanila, and that I think is the proper forum for us to ventilate, discuss, look into, and if necessary investigate, the allegations and their accusations against senator judges in their capacity, likewise, as senators. So ordered.
(0:03:55) So, what is the pressure of senator-judge?
SENATOR-JUDGE ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(0:03:57) I will just manifest. I correct myself. It was stamped, not registered mail. And since I agree with the ruling, I will not anymore argue the other rule that correlates with Rule 6. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER ESCUDERO:
(0:04:07) Thank you, Sir. Noted that it was stamped.
