New image, new attire for senators come Monday

For the historic trial of the President, senators are getting a makeover: from lawmakers to judges, and from suits and barong tagalog to black toga, possibly even a wig. And forget about the grandstanding.

The 22 members of the Senate formally take their oath on Monday as judges of the impeachment case against President Estrada.

Senate secretary Lutgardo Barbo told The STAR that 22 black gowns worth P1,000 each have been rush-ordered for distribution to senators during the oath-taking ceremonies to be presided by Chief Justice Hilario Davide.

The Senate protocol office said sizes of the black toga range according to the wearer’s height, from the 6-footer Sen. Rodolfo Biazon to the 4 foot-eleven inch Sen. Juan Flavier. Whether the senator-jurors will wear a wig or a cap is still being discussed.

Protocol officers were also busy creating Senate logos to be placed on the togas.

Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said when senators are sworn in as members of the tribunal, they must stop commenting on the merits of the impeachment case so as to protect their impartiality as judge and jury.

Senate President Pro Tempore Blas Ople supported the advice of Pimentel for senators to observe self-restraint in their public comments concerning the impeachment case.

"It sounds harsh but it is better for senators as judges and jurors to gag their own mouth... during the trial," Ople said.

In another development, Senate Majority Leader Francisco Tatad warned grandstanding senators that he will move for the suspension of the rule that allows senators to ask questions if this provision will be abused by some members of the chamber.

"We all want to see the trial begin and completed within the shortest possible time. We have no desire to delay or disrupt it," Tatad said.

He said if the senators’ grilling of witnesses will delay proceedings, then as chairman of the committee on rules he would move for the suspension of the impeachment rule allowing them to ask questions during trial.

"Should questions and statements by senators threaten at any time to delay or disrupt the proceedings, I shall be prepared to move for a suspension of the rules that allow them to speak, and ask that we simply adopt the practice in the US Senate," Tatad said.