Sa kanyang manifestation ngayong Martes, Nobyembre 10, tinanong ni Senator-Judge Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III ang posibleng parusa sa sinumang magsisinungaling sa harap ng impeachment court sa gitna ng paglilitis kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
Bilang tugon, sinabi ni Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero na maaaring maharap sa contempt ang sinumang mapapatunayang nagsinungaling sa korte.
“They may be subject to contempt by the court. In addition to that, maybe subjected to cases of perjury should one be filed against him before the proper prosecutor’s office,” ani Escudero.
“The statements given by any witness is under oath and therefore covered by our laws on perjury as well,” dagdag pa ni Escudero.
Binigyang-diin din ni Senator-Judge Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson na may malinaw na kapangyarihan ang impeachment court na magpatupad ng kaukulang parusa sa ilalim ng Rule 5 ng Resolution No. 39.
“We don’t want to have a repeat of that kind of testimony. Just a reminder to everyone, that this is not an implied power of the impeachment court but an express power granted under such resolution,” ani Lacson, tinukoy ang mga inihaharap na testigo ng depensa.