Corona urged to testify in impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines - House prosecutors yesterday prodded Chief Justice Renato Corona to testify in his impeachment trial in the Senate to speed up the process.

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo said Corona himself should clarify certain issues that remain muddled owing to the many roadblocks thrown by his lawyers along the way.

The prosecution panel spokesmen issued the statement as the Senate impeachment court is deciding on their request to invite Supreme Court Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to testify on the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the temporary restraining order (TRO) in November last year that would have allowed former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to leave the country.

The trial is currently hearing Article 7 against Corona, which accuses him of maneuvering the issuance of the TRO by the Supreme Court and consequently allowing Arroyo to escape prosecution on various charges.

Angara and Quimbo said the panel would start prosecuting Article 1 in the coming days. Article 1 accuses Corona of acting with “partiality and subservience” to Arroyo.

The panel earlier sought at least seven SC justices to testify but the Senate impeachment court rejected the request as a sign of respect for a co-equal branch of government.

The SC earlier issued a resolution disallowing its members to appear in the trial unless given permission by the high tribunal sitting en banc.

Quimbo described the resolution as “a conflict of interest that only serves to protect the Chief Justice but it does not serve to protect the truth.”

Quimbo said the prosecutors have been analyzing the moves of defense lawyers on how they could best defend their client. He said the only way to do it is if Corona himself appears before the impeachment court.

“How can you explain having P31 million in three bank accounts that you did not declare in your SALN (statement of assets, liabilities and net worth)? How can you explain the P27 million in total time deposits that you terminated on the very day that you were impeached by Congress? How can you explain that unless the Chief Justice himself shows up?” Quimbo said.

“Who will make those explanations? I mean, if they want to come up with a decent defense or story as to how he had those accounts, who will testify? I think without the Chief Justice, they’re (defense) working feverishly with calculators how to justify where the money that was not declared came from,” he said.

“I think the dilemma is they are hard pressed with the evidence that has so far been presented which they were hoping would not come out, with the obstacles they were able to put up – the road blocks on the SALN, the roadblocks on the TRO, on the bank accounts…but the Chief Justice thought those evidence would not come out in the Senate,” he added.

Too risky for Corona

Angara, however, said he would bet that Corona would not testify, as it would be risky for him to be cross-examined by prosecutors and “the truth will come out.”

“Once he (Corona) sits there (witness stand), he cannot limit his statements…he can be asked about practically anything as far as the complaint is concerned,” Angara said.

Quimbo said Sereno’s testimony – in case she decides to appear before the impeachment court – is crucial to proving Articles 7 and 1.

While Sereno’s testimony is important, Quimbo said the prosecution panel can still prove their charges even if she decides not to testify.

“We will show the reasons behind or what is the relationship between the Chief Justice and former President GMA. He did not just occupy a regular executive position but as far back as when she was vice president, he (Corona) was her chief of staff…so we can complete the picture of how brazen the issuance of the TRO was,” Quimbo said. – With Marvin Sy, Sheila Crisostomo