Santiago irked, forced to leave Day 7 trial

  By Shielo Mendoza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Miriam Defensor-Santiago (NPPA Images)

 After yet another heated argument with the prosecution team on Thursday, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago’s blood pressure shot up and was advised to leave early and rest at home.

Tom Tobias, media relations officer of Santiago, said the senator’sblood pressure read 180/90. He said Santiago will return on Monday for the trial.

When the proceedings began, the senator-judge was irked by the prosecution’s failure to answer her directly.

“Just answer yes or no! I am tired of hearing your voice!” Santiago said to private prosecutor Atty.Arthur Lim. She asked Lim if the prosecution is charging Chief Justice Renato Corona under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

A further scolding

Santiago further scolded the private prosecutor for arguing with her and even threatened to bar Lim from appearing in court.

“How dare you raise questions to my authority? Don't overstep yourself! You cannot engage in a discussion with me! I am the judge here!” she yelled.

Santiago was absent during the first week of the impeachment trial because of her hypertension.

When she returned on Tuesday, the senator-judge stressed the need to hasten the proceedings and repeatedly hit the prosecution panel for “wasting the time” of the court.

Farinas ‘walks out’

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, member of prosecution panel, reportedly walked out of the trial and told his colleagues, “Bahala na kayo diyan!”

Camille Mathay, daughter of Fariñas, went to Twitter to explain her father’s action. “Dad was disappointed because he wanted to argue but was stopped. He has been wanting to take the stand,” she tweeted.

“If you won't let him talk, why keep him there? Haynaku!!!!!!!” she added.

Nevertheless, Fariñas returned to the session hall after several minutes.

Posted in: Philippines News