A LAWYER appearing for a defendant in the “pastillas” scam case received an earful from the Sandiganbayan after he left without court permission during a hearing last January 22 even if her was scheduled to take his turn at re-cross examination of a government witness.
In a seven-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Zaldy V. Trespeses, however, the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division granted consideration to the admission of fault from lawyer Andre de Jesus and decided against citing him for contempt of court.
Instead, it opted to issue a stern warning that any repetition or similar conduct would be dealt with more severely.
“Further commission of the same or similar acts which may tend to disrupt the proceedings in this case will not be tolerated and this court will not hesitate to impose the proper sanctions,” the Sandiganbayan said.
Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Georgina D. Hidalgo concurred.
The court had demanded an explanation from De Jesus after he was found to have left the hearing when his name was called to conduct cross-examination on the witness at the stand.
A paralegal explained that De Jesus has left word that he was stepping out but had offered no reason why.
In his compliance dated January 23, 2024, the lawyer admitted that he left in a hurry to aid his mother who was supposedly being harassed by a group who had earlier victimized her in a scam. He added that his mother is a widow who is still suffering from depression due to the passing of her husband just three months earlier.
De Jesus said that since he was eighteenth in the order of lawyers who were supposed to do re-cross, he thought he had enough time to leave and come back without interrupting the proceedings by seeking leave of court.
However, he was later informed by his paralegal that majority of the lawyers waived the chance to re-cross, causing the court to adjourn proceedings earlier and that a show-cause order had been issued against him.
