Impeachment court warns contempt, perjury cases vs lying witnesses

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Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero reminded Tuesday that witnesses who lie under oath may be cited in contempt and face perjury charges.

Escudero said this on Day 41 of the impeachment trial after Senator-Judge Vicente “Tito” Sotto III asked to be reminded of the penalties and sanctions against those who lie before the impeachment court.

“They may be subject to contempt by the court, your Honor,” the presiding officer said.

“In addition to that, may be subjected to cases of perjury, should one be filed against him before the proper prosecutor’s office and/or courts of law because the statements given by any witness is under oath and is therefore covered by our laws on perjury as well,” he added.

This was echoed by Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, citing Rule V of Resolution No. 39 on containing the rules of procedure on impeachment trials, which states that:

The Senate shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses, to enforce obedience to its orders, mandates, writs, and judgments, to preserve order, and to punish in a summary way contempts of, and disobedience to, its authority, orders, mandates, writs, or judgments, and to make all lawful orders, rules, and regulations which it may deem essential or conducive to the ends of justice.

“Yesterday was not a good day for the impeachment court simply because we had a witness who smirked, who laughed, and almost made a mockery of the impeachment trial. And we don’t want to have a repeat of that kind of testimony,” Lacson said.

“Just a reminder to everyone that this is not an implied power of the impeachment court but an expressed power granted by such resolution,” he added.

On Monday, Davao City assessor Engineer Jaime Adalin, the first witness presented by the defense, was grilled by the prosecution and some senator-judges about his travel to China.

During his cross-examination, Adalin said he could not remember details of the trip, but he later admitted traveling to China in January 2026 for “personal” purposes, when he was being questioned by senator-judges.

The witness also said he would submit official documents regarding the trip.

No submission

But Escudero announced Tuesday that Adalin has yet to submit relevant details regarding his trip to China, as requested by Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo.

The impeachment court presiding officer thus directed the clerk of court to follow up with Adalin regarding the matter, and also remind him to provide the list of properties owned or are in the name of the Vice President and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio.

“If by tomorrow the same is not yet complied with, unless sufficient cause or reason is given, the court will be forced to issue compulsory process on the same,” Escudero said. —KG, GMA News