Cayetano urges Senate impeachment court and participants: Be circumspect with words
As emotions continue to run high during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday urged the court and all participants to be circumspect with the use of words to protect the proceedings’ integrity.
“Let’s be circumspect without pointing fingers to anyone — for both sides. Dahil nga kapag may certain word that may not only be negative but may (have) emotional attachment, magva-viral na iyan,” Cayetano said before day 18 wrapped up on August 25.
“It will really affect the integrity not only of the court but of the decision sa huli,” he added.
Cayetano said this after days of viral exchanges between the prosecution and defense panels, including senator-judges, during the trial that included terms and phrases such as ‘stupid,’ ‘nice try,’ ‘modus operandi,’ and ‘scam,’ among others.
The Minority Leader said the problem with coming up with these words is that it has a net effect on the audience.
“We admire your passion in trying to prove your allegations, but we’re also all aware that the medium is the message,” he said.
Cayetano likened it to “mind conditioning” since the trial airs in real time, unlike decades ago when words can be stricken off the record from radio and TV.
“There was no — if I can use the word — mind conditioning (then)… In fact, when I first became a senator in 2007, talagang hahanapin mo y’ung records. That’s why even here (sa plenary) kapag may disagreements and medyo nadala ng emotion, pinapa-strike off the record,” he said.
For Cayetano, only words already used from pleadings, included in the articles of impeachment, or used by witnesses are acceptable.
“Let’s all be aware that when we say it, even if we say ‘withdrawn’ — for both sides ha — kahit sabihin mong withdrawn na ito o kahit sabihin mong ‘nice try, nice try,’ et cetera., we know that that’s for the cameras and not just for the court, ‘di ba?” the senator-judge said.
“In the future na nagkamali, let’s not kid each other. Kaming senator-judges, nagkakamali din kami… But once masabi mo na, it takes on a life of its own. That’s why we have to be more circumspect in choosing those words,” he added.
Presiding Officer Senator-judge Francis Escudero also urged both panels to say certain words “within limit,” adding that Cayetano’s manifestation will be part of his ruling as chair.
Filipino Version
Paalala ni Cayetano sa impeachment: Maging maingat sa pananalita
Habang patuloy na nag-iinit ang diskusyon sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte, nagpaalala si Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Martes na dapat manatiling maingat sa paggamit ng mga salita para protektahan ang integridad nito.
“Let’s be circumspect without pointing fingers to anyone — for both sides. Dahil nga kapag may certain word that may not only be negative but may (have) emotional attachment, magva-viral na iyan,” wika ni Cayetano bago matapos ang day 18 nitong August 25.
“It will really affect the integrity not only of the court but of the decision sa huli,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ito ni Cayetano pagkatapos mag-viral ang ilang talakayan sa trial ng parehong prosecution at defense panels, kabilang ang senator-judges, kung saan nakapagbitaw ng mga maaanghang na salita tulad ng ‘stupid,’ ‘nice try,’ ‘modus operandi,’ at ‘scam.’
Ayon sa Minority Leader, ang problema sa mga salitang ito ay nagkakaroon ito ng negatibong epekto sa mga manonood.
“We admire your passion in trying to prove your allegations, but we’re also all aware that the medium is the message,” aniya.
Inihalintulad ni Cayetano ito sa “mind conditioning” kung saan mahirap nang bawiin ang mga sinabi dahil napapanood ng real time ang trial, hindi katulad ng radyo at TV noong araw kung saan maaaring hindi ipalabas o isama ang ilang kataga.
“There was no — if I can use the word — mind conditioning (then)… In fact, when I first became a senator in 2007, talagang hahanapin mo y’ung records. That’s why even here (sa plenary) kapag may disagreements and medyo nadala ng emotion, pinapa-strike off the record,” sabi niya.
Para kay Cayetano, dapat lamang gamitin sa korte ang mga salitang ginamit na sa pleadings, kasama sa articles of impeachment, at mga nasabi na ng mga testigo.
“Let’s all be aware that when we say it, even if we say ‘withdrawn’ — for both sides ha — kahit sabihin mong withdrawn na ito o kahit sabihin mong ‘nice try, nice try,’ et cetera., we know that that’s for the cameras and not just for the court, ‘di ba?” wika ng senator-judge.
“In the future na nagkamali, let’s not kid each other. Kaming senator-judges, nagkakamali din kami… But once masabi mo na, it takes on a life of its own. That’s why we have to be more circumspect in choosing those words,” dagdag niya.
Hinimok rin ni Presiding Officer Senator-judge Francis Escudero ang parehong panel na magbitaw ng mga salita nang “within limit,” at sinabing idadagdag niya ang manifestation ni Cayetano sa kanyang ruling.
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