(Eagle News) — Rep. Rey Umali on Tuesday gave lawyer Larry Gadon five days to explain why he issued the “unverified” statement an “oligarch” was planning to give a P200-million bribe to each senator who would vote to acquit Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in impeachment court.
This was after several lawmakers castigated him for what they said was an irresponsible statement.
Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc noted that Gadon should not have made the remark in the first place considering that Gadon himself admitted that the information was still “unverified.”
At one point, one lawmaker said Gadon should be cited in contempt.
But Gadon stood his ground, noting that while he disclosed the statement to the media, he himself defended the senators, noting they were “dignified persons.”
“Wala akong nakikitang contempt kasi ako mismo tumanggi na nangyari,” he said.
“Please shut up (sic) your mouth..para di naman mapasama proceedings,” Rep. Bong Crisologo said in response.
“I submit,” Gadon said.
Umali, the chair of the House justice panel hearing impeachment proceedings on Sereno, then reminded everyone to “refrain from uttering unsubstantiated remarks.”
“Pakiusap nalang para wag na tayong magulo,” he said.