Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero issued a stern warning on Wednesday to senator-judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers involved in the impeachment trial of the Vice President, demanding an immediate end to public commentary on the merits of the pending case.
Escudero noted that media interviews and social media posts by covered individuals have strayed into discussing evidence, witness credibility, and court issues, a direct violation of Rule 18 of the Rules of Impeachment. He emphasized that senator-judges must observe strict political neutrality and respect the sub judice principle, while both legal teams must maintain proper decorum at all times.
“This rule exists to balance the public’s right to information on matters of public concern with the need to protect the integrity of the proceedings from public judgment,” Escudero stated.
While wiping the slate clean for past infractions, the Senate leader announced that Rule 18 will now be strictly enforced through progressive disciplinary measures. Alleged violators will be issued show-cause orders and given 24 hours to submit a verified written statement. First-time offenders will face a formal reprimand in open court that will be permanently placed on record, while repeat offenders will be slapped with a P30,000 statutory fine per violation under Rule 71, Section 7 of the Rules of Court. Additionally, exercising its inherent case management powers, the court may impose defined prospective restrictions on offending lawyers, barring them from speaking, raising objections or examining witnesses on the floor.