Miriam makes more foes with outburst

CEBU CITY — The list of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago’s enemies is getting longer.

Her eruption at the impeachment trial last Thursday fed the growth of such list.

Gov. Pablo Garcia branded Santiago’s act of ousting three spectators during the impeachment trial as "conduct unbecoming of a senator-judge."

Garcia said Santiago should have been more circumspect with her actions and decisions, and refrained from showing unpleasant emotional outbursts during the trial which could not be described in any other way than "tantrums."

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines, for its part, criticized Santiago for over-reacting when she asked the Senate tribunal to remove and ban from the session hall three persons whom she accused of giving her "provocative" stares.

For displaying her characteristic antics Santiago has gained more enemies from different sectors, the CEGP pointed out.

Santiago had three spectators, Bettina Araneta Aboitiz, Rosanna Tuazon Fores and Dante Jimenez, banned permanently from watching the trial after the senator accused the three of looking at her "in a provocative way," and violating the impeachment trial regulations.

The three, however, denied committing any violation and said they merely wanted to get a better view of the proceedings.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), for its part, condemned Santiago’s ordered ejection of three impeachment trial spectators.

In a statement, the IBP said that Santiago’s act was "...deplorable and should not be taken as reflective of the professional behavior of UP Law graduates."

The group offered its services free of charge to Jimenez, Fores, and Aboitiz in the event Santiago presses contempt of court charges against the three.

But Santiago has filed a motion for reconsideration for the three spectators who were barred permanently from the Senate.

She said there has been an offer from the three to make a public apology should it be found that they violated the rules of court as perceived by Senator Santiago.

However, the governor here added it was very unfortunate that the three were ousted from watching the trial, especially so with Jimenez who is a member of an association of victims of heinous crimes that helped file the impeachment complaint against President Estrada.

"This is normal in the gallery. You can’t prevent how the public will react during the trial. Jimenez is a party to the case, being one of the complainants. Under the rules, the party should be present in the hearing of his case," Garcia said.

Garcia also said it was unfair for the three to have been ousted and not allowed to explain, adding that one of the senator-judges should have stood up and allowed the three who were subject to the ire of Santiago to explain.

"That act was very costly for Miriam especially since she’s running in the elections. She will lose thousands of votes there. It was very regretable. I even believe that she regretted her action because the entire nation was watching her actions, he said. — Freeman News Service