Impeach court cites private prosecutor for contempt

HEAR no evil.

For covering his ears while Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was giving House prosecutors another dressing down for dropping five out of eight articles in their complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, a private lawyer was cited for contempt by the impeachment court.

Lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre, one the private prosecutors, was cited for direct contempt upon a request of Santiago, who sits as a judge in the impeachment trial, for the lawyer’s deliberate display of disrespect toward a member of the court.

It was Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who took notice of the gesture made by Aguirre and asked Chief Prosecutor and Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. of Iloilo province to identify him before the court and explain why he made action.

Estrada asked Aguirre why he was covering his ears while a senator-judge—Santiago—was talking and what would he feel if the members of the impeachment court would do it to him.

Aguirre admitted that he deliberately covered his ears because his ears were aching from listening to what he said was a lecture being given by Santiago to members of the prosecution panel.

He described Santiago’s voice as “shrill.”

“I did it purposely. Shrill [as her] voice, nasasaktan ang tenga ko [my ears ached],” the lawyer said.

Aguirre insisted that he was fed up with Santiago’s lecture and that it was the first time that he witnessed a judge lecturing a lawyer during a trial, an action that he also described as improper.

Santiago stood up and told Aguirre that he should have also stood up and left instead of making discourteous gestures toward a member of the court.

But instead of apologizing to Santiago, the lawyer said that he really wanted to leave the courtroom.

Senate President Juan Ponce, also the presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court, moved to temporarily suspend the hearing for several minutes upon the resumption of which Sen. Pia Cayetano took the floor and declared support for Santiago’s motion to cite Aguirre in contempt.

Cayetano said that a lawyer may disagree with any judge but he is not allowed to display arrogance before the court. No member of the impeachment court objected to Santiago’s motion.

Enrile in his ruling granted the motion to cite the lawyer in contempt saying that there were enough grounds to do so.

“Today we have witnessed a direct indication of disrespect by a member of the Bar to this court… I must say I cannot tolerate any disrespect of this court and to any member of this court as a presiding officer,” he said.

Enrile added that in all his years in professional practice, he had encountered many stern judges but he always observed utmost respect to the dignity of the court before which he was appearing.

“From hereon, all concerned must take note of this, we will not longer tolerate misbehavior like this, if you want to participate you are welcome but if you do not believe in the dignity of this court and its jurisdiction over you and if you think you are better than us, you are entitled on your opinion but we will enforce the rules of procedures,” he said after handing down the court’s ruling.

Public prosecutor Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, speaking on behalf of the prosecution team, expressed no objection over the motion for contempt.

“We like to express our regret from what happened… the private prosecutor [Aguirre] is under our control,” Fariñas told the court.

Prior to the tussle between Santiago and the private prosecutor, the lawmaker was scolding the prosecution team for its decision to abandon five of the eight articles cited in its impeachment compliant, saying that the move was a disrespect to the impeachment court.

Worse, she said that after dropping more than half of their allegations against the Chief Justice, the prosecutors even had the guts to claim “victory” even if the defense panel was yet to make its presentation.

“You [prosecutors] have been misleading the court. I’m very concerned that the prosecution has been [acting] in very bad faith all along. You’ve been saying to the media, ‘Panalo na kami’ [We won]. Kami ang magdedesisyon niyan, hindi kayo [We will be the ones to decide, not you],” Santiago said.

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/editorials/18286-impeach-court-cites-private-prosecutor-for-contempt

Many tourists and residents of Manila traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Pampanga Angeles City, Clark Philippines are surprised to find a a large wine shop so near Manila right in the heart of Pampanga, just 70 minutes from Manila. Even residents of Subic travel to Clark via ScTex to do some wine shopping in this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center, a project of Hong Kong-based Yats International.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Public wine tastings are held by this well known wine shop of Pampanga from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive. This is one the things to do in Manila and Pampanga.

Tourists and residents of Manila travel out of town to the north on a short getaway look for the best place in Clark to buy some fine vintage wine to bring home after their holidays and vacations. Many find a top rated wine shop called Clark Wine Center to be an exciting place to do some shopping in Clark Pampanga. This famous wine shop is highly recommended for visitors going to Clark Pampanga to drink good wine, relax and unwind with friends and families. This frequently visited wine shop is known by tourist and visitors to Pampanga, Angeles city, Subic and Clark Philippines as a cool place to hang out in Clark. Many attend the regular wine tasting held either outdoor on the roof deck or in indoor on the second floor above the wine shop. The place has good atmosphere for a private wine tasting party or a small night out gatherings for business or social event.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com