Impeachment case against the Chief Justice Corona

Posted by Maribojoc Bohol on January 17th, 2012 in Local News

By Perfecto T. Raymundo Jr.

The defense team of Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Corona on Monday expressed no surprise over the denial by the Senate Impeachment Court of their motion for a preliminary hearing of the impeachment case against the Chief Justice.

Defense Spokesman Atty. Tranquil Salvador said that they had foreseen the denial of the motion for a preliminary hearing.

“Di na kami nagulat (We were not surprised),” Salvador said.

Salvador said that the opening statement of the prosecution was just the summary of their complaint.

“Wala kaming nakitang bago (We have not seen anything new),” he said.

However, the Defense Spokesman said that they agreed with the prohibition made by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is the Presiding Senator-Judge of the Senate Impeachment Court, to do away with the disclosure of the merits of the case to the public, particularly by the prosecution so as to have a fair trial.

“Tomorrow, we are expecting the prosecution to present one article of impeachment at ready kami para dito,” Tranquilino said.

Tranquilino also said that they might file either a motion for reconsideration (MR) or a petition for certiorari before the SC in connection with the dismissal of their two motions.

Earlier, the Senate Impeachment Court denied the defense panel’s motion for preliminary hearing and motion for the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Corona.

On the other hand, Atty. Karen Jimeno, another Defense Spokesperson, said that the alleged ill-gotten wealth was not in the impeachment complaint.

“The prosecution is presenting evidence outside their allegation. Unfortunately, this will lead to trial by publicity,” she said.

Jimeno acknowledged the right of the prosecution to summon all their witnesses even the justices of the SC.

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