UNDER OATH

A lawyer who appears before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Commission on Elections or other similar bodies with two or more sitting justices, commissioners or hearing officers, should expect being asked a lot of questions and will sometimes be humiliated for not coming prepared.

But Wow! Oh boy! And wha!

Seldom do we see a witness being reprimanded, confronted and bombarded by magistrates with questions, and straightforward statements or even being read and lectured on provisions of the law pertaining to possible civil and criminal liabilities. These are unprecedented and history has not been too kind as they unfolded because there were valid reasons. A witness was blurting out inconsistent statements and answers to the questions thus propounded. They were answers which the magistrates tried to reconcile with one another but eventually gave up for reasons known only to them or merely due to lack of time.

In fairness . . .

The witness may not have the luxury of time or opportunity to go over his notes or calendar. Maybe, human memory sometimes when under too much pressure could not process information stored in it right away. The court room itself may just be so intimidating enough to paralyze an otherwise clear and responsive mind. The sight of television cameras, batteries of lawyers, congressmen and observers seated at the galleries, and the overwhelming number of judges in full regalia, make ups and haircuts, and the fact that the credibility of the witness has been questioned due to his association and closeness with the number one critic of the impeached official - now tell me and all, would you have done better?

Well, at least someone did - the buyer of the Marikina property.

Bottomline.

Just be who you are and bear in mind that when you took your oath, you have sought God's help for you to tell the truth.


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