‘Sub judice rule does not cover Baste Duterte’s GenCorp statement’

MANILA, Philippines — The sub judice rule does not cover the remarks made by Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte prior to his appearance before the Senate impeachment court, presiding officer and Senator-Judge Francis Escudero said Tuesday.

Escudero was referring to a statement released by Mayor Duterte last Tuesday, Sept. 22, where he claimed that he and all other employees of the Davao City government “never had any knowledge” about his sister’s links to GenCorp Industries Inc.

READ: Baste Duterte ‘unaware’ sister Sara holds interest in GenCorp Industries

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GenCorp Industries Inc. is among the companies being tackled in the vice president’s impeachment trial, particularly on her alleged unexplained wealth.

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The company also has links to Davao City through multiple local government contracts.

“To enrich the records and inform the parties, Rule 18 did not apply to Mayor Duterte when he made his statement although the subpoena was already issued,” said Escudero.

“At that time, he was not yet a witness of this court, it is only now after he took his oath that he became a witness of the court and therefore Rule 18 applies to him,” he added.

With this, any pronouncements made by Mayor Duterte after standing as a witness—this morning and this afternoon—is now covered by the sub judice rule.

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Under the Rule 18 of the impeachment rules, members of the Senate, the prosecutors, the respondent, the counsels and witnesses are prohibited “from making any comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial.”

Sub judice rule violators will face public reprimand with admonition on their first strike, while 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 succeeding violations. /gsg