Philippines TRO on Corona Impeachment

Posted by Maribojoc Bohol on January 21st, 2012 in Local News

By Jelly F. Musico

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has said the senators are ready to comment on the petitions for temporary restraining orders (TROs) filed before the Supreme Court in an effort to stop the Senate from sitting as impeachment court for the trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

”We have been given 10 days to answer. We cannot just give our comments. More or less, I knew already the answer but I can’t reveal it yet right now,” Enrile, the presiding officer of the impeachment court, said.

The SC has withheld its verdict on the motions for TROs by various individuals but required the Senate to respond within 10 days upon receipt of the request.

As this developed, Atty. Allan Paguia and Atty. Homobono Adaza reportedly filed their third urgent motion asking the SC to stop the impeachment proceedings which started last January 16.

Enrile, however, said “no one can interfere with us as long as we apply the Bill of Rights and the principle of due process and as long as we do an impartial and fair administration of justice.”

”You know there are only three branches of government. They’re co-equal and independent from each other. Separate and independent but coordinated. Powers of government are divided into three parts assigned to three branches of government. One, the Executive, implements the law. The other, which is Congress, enacts the law. The third branch, the Judiciary, interprets,” Enrile, a veteran lawmaker, explained.

”Now the impeachment trial in the Senate is special. It is assigned to Congress and it involves the two Houses. One prosecutes and the other tries and decides the case but in this case, it does not mean that we become superior,” Enrile added.

The Senate president said the impeachment court has the sole power to try and decide an impeachment case.

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