Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu condemns Miriam Santiago for use of ‘intemperate language’ | Sun.Star

Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu condemns Miriam Santiago for use of ‘intemperate language’ | Sun.Star

IBP Cebu chapter has spoken against senatorial abuse and arrogance. All Metro Manila chapters, which are the biggest chapters in the country, have been quiet on the impeachment issue, raising the suspicion that they maintain and protect hidden agenda and vested interests. The biggest chapter is Quezon City (30K members by now?). Manila has 4 district chapters. The MM chapter w/ 4 cities is PPLM Ch. - Pasay Paranaque Las Pinas Muntinlupa. All have been mysteriously silent. I call them safe-player and fence-sitter leaders. They do not deserve to be called advocates of law, justice and freedom.

- Atty. Manuel J. Laserna Jr.


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Lawyers group in Cebu condemns senator
Saturday, March 3, 2012

CEBU CITY -- The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter denounced Friday Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago for being disrespectful to members of the bench when she scolded private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre last Wednesday.

The feisty senator-judge lashed out at the prosecution after the panel announced it would terminate the presentation of its evidence and witnesses, and would no longer pursue five of the eight articles of impeachment.

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Aguirre, who later resigned as private prosecutor in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, was caught on television covering his ears with cupped palms, while Santiago lectured the prosecution.

Aguirre, who admitted he deliberately covered his ears because he did not want to hear the “shrill voice” of Santiago, was later cited in contempt for his action.

Although he apologized to the senator, Aguirre still faces 48 hours of detention at the Senate detention facility and will be compelled to listen to the video speeches of Santiago.

“The actuation of Santiago in using intemperate language was not good,” Earl Bonachita, IBP Cebu City chapter president, told reporters.

Bonachita said the lawyers’ group will pass a resolution condemning Santiago’s act.

The IBP Cebu chapter will tackle the issue during its meeting next week.

Ferdinand Pepito, IBP Cebu chapter head, however, said that while it may be improper for the senator-judge to throw around hurtful words, he said Aguirre’s act was “contemptuous.”

In a related development, Senator Manny Villar, who was the main speaker at a leadership seminar organized by Representative Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district), said the impeachment trial, though it has no direct effect on the lives of Cebuanos, will test and strengthen the systems of government.

He admitted that the trial is delaying some of their work in the Senate, but they are doubling their efforts to compensate for the lost time.

Although the impeachment trial focuses on the present administration’s anti-corruption drive, he said he sees the need to attend to the country’s economic problems.

The senator also announced that he will not be running in the coming elections, but he will continue his advocacies like helping overseas Filipino workers, among others.

And being the president of the Nacionalista Party, Villar said he will support his party’s candidates in the country, including those in Cebu. (GMD/OCP/Sun.Star Cebu)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on March 03, 2012.

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