Private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre had had enough of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and had the guts to stand up to her.
In a hearing marked by high drama, Aguirre covered his ears with his hands while the prosecution panel was receiving yet another a tongue-lashing from Santiago, this time for its sudden decision on Tuesday to rest its case against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
For that “contemptuous” behavior, Aguirre earned the ire of not just Santiago but the entire Senate impeachment court, which cited him in contempt on Day 26 of the impeachment trial, ironically a day after the prosecution had rested its case.
“I charge this private prosecutor with contempt of this impeachment court! I have evidence right here taken by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, and to say that nasaktan ang tenga ko (my ears hurt) should have been (a cause) for you to walk out of this impeachment court. But you cannot make those contemptuous gestures in front of a judge, and get away with it,” Santiago declared.
Cayetano himself took the picture using his cellular phone camera.
Santiago made the motion to cite Aguirre in contempt soon after the volunteer lawyer candidly admitted to the impeachment court that he did cover his ears.
“That’s true because my ears already hurt,” Aguirre said, while being questioned by Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada.
Estrada had inquired into Aguirre’s motive for publicly displaying his disdain for Santiago.
“It seemed that you don’t want to listen to her,” Estrada said. “That’s disrespect for a member of this court.”
Aguirre argued that he had to cover his ears because he did not agree with Santiago’s position that it was not usual for lawyers to withdraw, or amend their complaints.
“This happens every day. The fact is that this is the first time that I experienced in my 40 years of practice that a judge would lecture his lawyers. That’s not proper,” Aguirre said.
For me no,by this picture people can see how he(Aguirre)lost he's patience in the court... when people covered their ears to someone talking to them people tend to feel offended.. but I can not blamed Atty. Aguirre for I think Sen. Defensor-Santiago talk to much things that wasn't necessary. But I can say that this action is considered a contempt of court because it is rejecting the side of the people who were in high position than he is.
ReplyDeletesobra na rin kasi si madam miriam.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Mark Twain,When people do not respect us we are sharply offended; yet in his private heart no man much respects himself. That makes sense. Right?
ReplyDeleteI agree to Ms. Hazel Silva that we are being offended when somebody is disrespecting us. Of course as a human being, we all wanted to be respected as how we respect other people.
ReplyDeleteFor me, no because this picture showing Mr. aguirre covering his ears is a sign of disrespect to senator miriam santiago. Even sen. santiago lectures like a strict professor, mr. aguirre must take into consideration that sen. santiago is in a higher position than him.
ReplyDeletethey were both wrong. the senator should have not called them "gago".
ReplyDeletemr. aguirre lost patience and covered his ears. he really intended to disrespect the senator for he himself felt disrespected.
In the end.. bayad na most of the senators there. including Miriam.
kung di man sila bayad. natakot na sila sa Iglesia ni Kristo.. you know what i mean.
ReplyDelete