SENATOR-JUDGE ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(0:00) … I ask for your indulgence from the prosecution and the defense. There are certain issues that we are more than willing to listen to the debate here. I’m speaking for myself but I think also for other senator judges and of course will give us much leeway.
(0:20) But there are certain issues that we also need time to study. So if we look at our Rules on Impeachment, suppletory kasi yung Rules of Court. And the difference between asking the accused to take the stand and asking someone who is not the accused, but may say something that is incriminatory, there’s a wide difference.
(0:50) So the accused, under the Rules of Court, hindi mo pwedeng i-force to take a stand. Pero yung hindi accused, they have to take a stand and wait for the questions and then they can claim the right against self-incrimination..
(1:07) But it could be argued that this isn’t exactly a criminal court and a criminal offense, it’s an impeachment court. So if it pleases the court or if the prosecution is sure to ask for the subpoena, may I propose Mr. Presiding Officer that both sides gives us a memoranda in advance. So that we can do our part and study rather than spend much more time during the debates because I’d really like to study that issue also. Thank you and sorry for the interruption, Congressman.
