00:00The impeachment court witnesses one of the most tense days yet between the prosecution and defense,
00:07with private prosecutor Lorna Capunan treating defense lawyer Christine Ferrer like a misbehaving child.
00:14Your Honor, please, I am preventing myself from giving her a spanking, Your Honor.
00:21Presiding Officer Cheese Escudero is compelled to intervene several times
00:26to diffuse the tensions between the opposing counsels.
00:30At one point, Witness and State Auditor Sailene May Del Campo tries to answer Ferrer's question
00:36but is stopped mid-sentence by Ferrer, prompting Capunan to ask.
00:41Can the counsel be instructed not to stop the witness at mid-sentence, Your Honor?
00:49Your Honor, please, can the witness be directed? Do you just answer with yes or no?
00:53Ferrer insisted that it was her turn to conduct a cross-examination of the witness,
00:58but Capunan insists.
01:00Never mind if you're on cross. There are limits to cross-examination.
01:06Misleading questions are not allowed.
01:08They are allowed.
01:09Ferrer's response generates reactions from the impeachment court.
01:14Escudero intervenes and makes a motion for both the defense and prosecution.
01:18Let's not allow the generational or seeming generational divide increase the tension in the courtroom.
01:26Let's keep it a notch lower.
01:29Private Prosecutor Amanda Virgil Ligutan posts on Facebook affirming,
01:34misleading questions are not allowed even on cross-examination.
01:38Claro po sa rules of court na yung misleading questions hindi po allowed.
01:45So kung makikita nyo sa four corners ng post ko, no, wala doon.
01:52It doesn't add anything other than ano yung nakasulat sa rules of court natin.
01:59The defense complains about Ligutan's post in a manifestation in court.
02:05I really just find it in bad taste to do this at this time.
02:10And I think it is inappropriate to do that to a fellow member of the bar.
02:14Meantime, in a Rappler interview, constitutional law expert attorney Lulu Reyes says
02:20she is saddened by Capunan and Ferrer's exchange.
02:23It makes me sad because of first two women lawyers at that fighting in court.
02:33So I see a gender dimension there.
02:37We are always, women lawyers are always judged differently than male lawyers.
02:43So that makes me sad because these are really well-educated and professional women
02:49and the public tends to reduce it into sabunutan ng dalawang babae.
02:55Reyes also points out there is a generational divide between the councils but adds
03:01she does not condone Capunan's comment regarding giving Ferrer a spanking.
03:06She also points out Ferrer's lack of experience was painful to watch.
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