Senate OKs rules of procedure in impeach trial

MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE) The Senate has adopted the rules of procedure that will be used in the impeachment trial of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

The new approved rules, contained in Resolution 432, did not include the proposed imposition of a gag order on senators, who will sit as judges when the Senate convenes as an impeachment court, prosecutors, witnesses, counsels and even including the Senate President who will preside over the impeachment trial.

Instead, the rules provide that the presiding officer has “the power to make and issue by himself or by the Secretary of the Senate, all orders, mandates, and writs authorized by these rules or by the Senate, and to make and enforce such other regulations and orders in the premises as the Senate may authorize or provide.”

But Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who presented on the floor Resolution 432 containing the rules of procedures on impeachment trials, explained that the senator-judges could not still talk about the merits of the case and would not be allowed to be interviewed during the actual impeachment proceedings.

“Hindi gag order ang tawag pero (It’s not called gag order but) we are not allowed to talk about the merit of the case or we're not allowed to be interviewed during the actual proceedings,” Sotto told reporters.

Sotto, before adjourning the session, announced that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court on May 9.

He said the Senate acting as an impeachment court will be ready to accept the prosecution at 2:00 p.m. on May 9.

The approval of the impeachment rules came just hours after the House of Representatives transmitted to the Senate on Wednesday the articles of impeachment against the Ombudsman. (report from Maila Ager, Inquirer.net)