MANILA – Courtroom proceedings should be governed by respect, decorum, and proper conduct rather than an expectation that opposing lawyers should treat each other kindly, House prosecutor and Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said.

Diokno made the statement after lawyers for Vice President Sara Duterte appealed for kindness during the Senate impeachment trial.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, Presiding Judge Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero intervened in a heated exchange between prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan and defense counsel Kristine Ferrer.

Drawing from his experience as a litigator, Diokno said parties cannot demand favorable or gentle treatment from opposing counsel, but they can expect all participants to follow courtroom rules and show respect for the tribunal, opposing counsel, and witnesses.

“Of course, we all want kindness as a human virtue, but as far as court rules are concerned, ang importante ay masunod iyong court decorum and proper court behavior,” he said.

Diokno said respect is a professional requirement that helps keep adversarial proceedings orderly despite disagreements among the parties.

“Ang pinaka-essence ng court decorum talaga ay respeto – respeto sa judge, respeto sa kalaban,” he said.

He said the prosecution expects these standards to be observed throughout the impeachment trial and would call out anyone who violates proper courtroom decorum.

“That is what we are hoping and insisting will happen in this impeachment case, and we will always be ready to call out anyone who is not following proper court decorum,” he said.

Diokno also expressed concern that law students watching the nationally televised proceedings could develop a distorted understanding of proper courtroom advocacy.

He said raising one’s voice at opposing counsel does not strengthen an argument or determine whether a judge will accept it.

“Ang kailangan lang, matibay at solid ang argumento mo. Hindi naman pataasan ng boses ang court hearing,” he said.

Diokno likewise reminded lawyers to allow witnesses to finish answering before raising objections or seeking to have testimony stricken from the record.

“We should never interrupt a witness while they are speaking,” he said.

He said such restraint allows witnesses to complete their answers while preserving counsel’s right to challenge inadmissible or improper testimony.

The prosecution, he added, expects the same standards of conduct to be observed throughout the impeachment trial./PNA