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Senators barred from granting interviews during Merci trial


Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will bar senators from granting interviews in case the impeachment trial against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez proceeds. "After the hearing, if they want to be interviewed, they can be interviewed. But during the hearing of the case, there should be no interruption so that the senators can listen to the evidence well," Enrile told reporters in an interview Wednesday. Gutierrez is accused of betrayal of public trust when she allegedly protected former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from prosecution — an accusation she repeatedly denied. Enrile said the possible impeachment trial of Gutierrez would be different from the proceedings against former President Joseph Estrada 10 years ago, when senators were interviewed even when the trial was ongoing. Enrile said since the trial will be open to the public, there will be no need to interview the senators individually. "You can observe what is going on, you will hear the testimony of witnesses, you can hear the questions that will be asked about certain documents," he said. He likewise said that it would be better if the senators would not comment on the impeachment case at all. "Huhusgahan nila yun. Kung may mga madadaldal dyan, baka ma-inhibit sila (They'll sit as judges. If they talk about it too much, they might be asked to inhibit)." Section 3, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution says that the House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment while the Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all the cases of impeachment. Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III had earlier said that the Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court when Congress resumes session on May 9. Enrile, however, said they have yet to adopt the rules on impeachment proceedings, but added that he would prefer it if the prosecutors were the congressmen themselves. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News

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