Congressman to testify for Corona defense

MANILA, Philippines - A congressman, who protested the allegedly railroaded impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona at the House of Representatives, announced today that he is voluntarily testifying for the defense panel.

Navotas Rep. Tobias "Toby" Tiangco said in a radio interview that he will take the witness stand to prove his previous privilege speech where he criticized the hasty and hurried process implemented by his colleagues at the House of Representatives in impeaching Corona.

"I just want to reiterate my earlier position on the impeachment of the Chief Justice without my parliamentary immunity," Tiangco said.

In his privilege speech, Tiangco said he supports President Bengino Aquino III' s campaign against corruption and to put to jail former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her alleged involvement in various graft-ridden deals, but said that it must be done in a manner that upholds the Constitution.

Tiangco, a member of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, has left the majority bloc at the House of Representatives.

He also berated Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II , also the House Majority Leader, for warning that Tiangco faces expulsion if he appears as a defense witness.

"He's (Gonzales) bullying us. How can he say that we are committing unruly behavior? Is it considered an unruly behavior if you voluntarily appear before the court? Is that a hostile act? Compared to him, I am just a minor political player, so who's the bully here?" Tiangco said.

Tiangco said Gonzales should be disbarred for trying to prevent him to take the witness stand.

Lawyer Tranquil Salvador III, one of the defense lawyers of Corona, said in a television interview that Tiangco will be presented to the Senate impeachment court as their witness to prove that the impeachment complaint did not go through the legal process.

Salvador declined to confirm if Tiangco will appear at the resumption of the impeachment trial at 2 p.m. today.

The defense panel will begin presenting its witnesses and evidence to counter allegations that the Chief Justice committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust by amassing ill-gotten wealth and extending undue favors to Mrs. Arroyo.

Earlier reports said that Cristina Corona, the wife of the chief justice, is among the witnesses who have been lined up by the defense panel to take the stand.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who sits as the impeachment court's presiding judge, had suggested that it would be better if Corona himself will take the witness stand to explain his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) and bank deposits that are being questioned by the House prosecution team.

Corona, meanwhile, said in media interviews last week that he is prepared to appear in the Senate impeachment trial.

He, however, said that it would be up to his lawyers to decide if he should testify.

He also said that he is willing to open records of his dollar deposits at the impeachment trial.

The prosecution panel, meanwhile, said that if the defense panel of Corona insists on filing a motion for preliminary hearing, which alleged that the members of the House of Representatives impeached the Chief Justice even without reading the complaint, the defense panel would only be seeking to delay the proceedings.

“The impeachment court has already decided on this motion last January 16. I don’t think we should revisit this issue again,” Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III of Quezon, a spokesman of the prosecution panel, said in a television interview.

Tanada also said they are ready to face Tiangco in the impeachment court and cross-examine their colleague if Tiangco does take the witness stand.

“It’s not a secret that he would be testifying for the defense. I just hope that the Chief Justice does the same instead of going to the media and issuing all these statements. The prosecution wants him (Corona) to give these statements under oath,” Tanada said.

The lawmaker also assured Enrile that the prosecution would respect Corona and his office if the Chief Justice appears before the court. Enrile has threatened to resign as presiding judge to resign if anyone disrespects Corona if the latter takes the witness stand.

“No one from the prosecution would disrespect Corona. We have to respect his office,” Tanada said, adding that Corona should also be required to answer questions clearly and directly and refrain from being evasive.