Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero on Tuesday prohibited all witnesses from possessing or accessing earpieces, mobile phones, smartwatches and other communication devices while testifying.
Escudero issued the directive on Day 20 of the trial after the court verified that a widely circulated image claiming to show witness Lemuel Ortonio, Assistant Chief of Staff at the Office of the Vice President, wearing an earpiece was an AI-generated fake. Escudero clarified that the object in Ortinio’s ear was a standard piercing on his ear helix, not an electronic receiver.
To prevent coaching or outside influence during testimony, Escudero ruled that no witness may use or carry any device capable of transmitting or receiving information, including smart glasses and headsets, from the time they take the stand until they are formally discharged, including during court recesses.
Under the new rules, the clerk of court must collect all prohibited gadgets before swearing in each witness and record their explicit commitment to comply. Exceptions for medical or translation devices require prior court approval, with violations subject to disciplinary action.