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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Masama ba yun?': Ridon finds nothing wrong with asking senator-judges clarificatory questions

'Masama ba yun?': Ridon finds nothing wrong with asking senator-judges clarificatory questions

Published Jul 24, 2026 10:27 am

At A Glance

  • Ridon defends Luistro, saying there is nothing wrong with prosecutors or defense counsels asking clarifying questions before the Senate Impeachment Court.
  • Padilla rejects questioning, telling Luistro she has no right to ask, which prompted Ridon to stress the need for a clear court ruling on the matter.
  • Call for clarification, as Ridon emphasizes that both parties should be allowed to ask clarifying questions to ensure proper understanding of senator-judges' statements.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (left), Senator-judge Robin Padilla (Facebook)
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (left), Senator-judge Robin Padilla (Facebook)


Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon doesn't see anything wrong or offensive with House lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro’s act of asking a question to Senator-judge Robin Padilla for the sake of clarity.
Nonetheless, Ridon, himself a prosecutor in Vice President Sara Duterte's ongoing Senate impeachment trial, highlighted the need for the court to give a black and white ruling on the matter.
“Tingin ko walang masamang magtanong at maglinaw ang isang prosecutor or defense counsel sa Senate impeachment court kung ito ay para maglinaw lang po ng mga tanong ng mga senator-judges,” Ridon said in a virtual press conference Thursday, July 23.
(I think there is nothing wrong if a prosecutor or defense counsel asks and clarifies before the Senate Impeachment Court if it is only to clarify the questions of the senator-judges.)
The party-list solon was alluding to the events of the trial Wednesday, when Padilla seemingly took exception to Luistro’s attempt to ask him a question regarding his own remarks concerning senator-judges who face cases, and whether those proceedings had prevented them from sitting in the impeachment court.
“Alam po ninyo, malinaw na ang sinabi ko at wala kayong karapatang magtanong (You know, what I said is clear and you have no right to ask questions)," Padilla told the Batangueña.
According to Ridon, Luistro’s concern was limited to obtaining a clear interpretation of the court’s procedure, not challenging the authority of the senator-judges.
“Kasi kami, hihingi ng paglilinaw sa Senate impeachment court kung ito ba ang aktwal na sitwasyon sa kaso. Kasi kami naman, sa pagtingin, naglilinaw lang naman po,” he noted.
(Because for us, we will seek clarification from the Senate impeachment court if this is indeed the actual situation in the case. Because in our view, we are only clarifying.)
Luistro later said she felt "deprived" with her exchange with the senator-judges, including Senator Pia Cayetano.
“So I think very important moving forward na baka kailangan humingi ng paglilinaw ang prosecution team kung ito nga ba ang patakaran sa Senate impeachment court na hindi puwedeng magtanong ng paglilinaw,” Ridon said.
(So I think it is very important moving forward that the prosecution team may need to seek clarification if this is indeed the rule in the Senate Impeachment Court that no clarifying questions are allowed.)
“I think, respectfully, maganda ang makapagtanong ng paglilinaw ang either party, whether defense or prosecution,” he added.
(I think, respectfully, it is good if either party, whether defense or prosecution, can ask clarifying questions.)

Related Tags

Robin Padilla Terry Ridon Gerville \"Jinky Bitrics\" Luistro senator-judges IMPEACHMENT Sara Duterte
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