House Prosecutor and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (Photo from NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel on Thursday confirmed receipt of the show-cause orders issued by the Senate impeachment court against two of its members for possible violation of the sub judice rule.
According to House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, one of the recipients of the order was House prosecutor and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.
“Right now, we are still looking at the details of what the contents of that show cause order are, so we have not yet seen, and have not yet discussed what the course of action of the prosecution panel will be,” said Adiong during a press conference.
Ridon, in a separate interview, also confirmed receipt of the show-cause order—also revealing that the other member of the panel who likewise received a show-cause was private prosecutor Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr.
“Bukod po sa akin si Atty. Jay Tolosa ‘yon pong binigyan ng show-cause order,” said Ridon.
(Besides me, Atty. Jay Tolosa was also given a show-cause order.)
The sub judice rule bars both the prosecution and defense teams, their witnesses, the respondent, and senator-judges from publicly commenting on the merits of the pending case.
Based on a recent ruling by court Presiding Officer and Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero, sub judice rule violators will face public reprimand with admonition on their first strike.
A monetary fine of P30,000, with the possibility of being restricted from speaking, objecting or examining witnesses on the floor, may be imposed upon them for their subsequent violations.