Gatchalian to sleepy impeachment attendees: Monitor trial at home

MANILA, Philippines — While he urged Filipinos to closely follow the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged those who may be too tired or sleepy to just stay and monitor the proceedings at home to avoid falling asleep inside the session hall.

“If they’re sleepy, they shouldn’t come. They can sleep at home and watch the proceedings on TV. It doesn’t look good to attend the impeachment court proceedings and then sleep there. They can just watch from home if they’re feeling sleepy, and so they won’t be reminded or nudged inside the court,” Gatchalian said in an interview with radio dzBB on Sunday.

“Even in a normal court, you do not go there to sleep. You’re also not allowed to sleep there. And also, [not sleeping inside the court] is a sign of respect for the court,” he added.

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It can be recalled that Rep. Bienvenido Abante, who was seated at the VIP section of the Senate session hall, was caught sleeping last Monday while Rendell Sopeña, Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System’s (PhilGEPS) division chief, was at the witness stand and answering questions from senator-judges.

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READ: Abante: I fell asleep because defense’s questions are boring

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero then asked former Surigao del Norte and prosecution spokesperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and prosecutor Rep. Lorenz Defensor to “kindly nudge Cong Benny a bit.”

“It seems he’s tired. He may want to rest somewhere, but at least not right behind the witness,” Escudero said.

“I think he’s praying for us,” lead public prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said in jest.

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“I doubt that,” Escudero replied, adding: “It’s been a long day, I guess.”

In an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the trial, Abante said, laughing: “I fell asleep at 2 a.m. this morning, so I fell asleep a little.”

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“You’ll really feel sleepy because of the questions from the defense lawyers…it’s nice to listen, but when [the questions] become boring, you’ll get sleepy,” he said. /cb