PRE-HEARING PLEA DENIED
MANILA, JANUARY
17,
2012 (ABS-CBN) The impeachment court
dismissed on Monday a motion to cite in contempt of court the House prosecutors
for disclosing evidence about Chief Justice Renato Corona's alleged real estate
properties ahead of the trial.
Presiding Judge Juan Ponce Enrile dismissed the contempt motion filed by
lawyer Fernando Perito.
Enrile argued that Perito has no legal authority in the case. He said Perito
is neither a lawyer for the defense or the prosecution.
He said Perito did not even ask the Senate that he will intervene in the
case.
Enrile, however, warned those not involved from presenting evidence in
public.
Enrile said "the people have no authority to try this case and so therefore,
we request [everyone] to exercise a degree of caution in exposing evidence in
public."
He said the public "is not under oath" and cannot try Corona the same way.
Perito, in his motion, had said he was "appalled by the irresponsible
behavior" of the prosecution panel.
"It is to movant's dismay coupled with outrage and indignation that this
bunch of prosecutors called the Honorable Gentlemen and Representatives of the
people who are lawyers would be conspiring with impunity in their relentless
thirst for media exposures to demonize their prey, the Chief Justice," he had
argued.
The impeachment court also denied Corona's motion for a preliminary hearing.
After the initial court rulings and opening introductions and statements, the
impeachment court adjourned less than 2 hours after the start of the Corona
trial.
In his opening statement, Enrile said the upper house is committed to "see
the process all the way to its completion."
He said the senators have convened as a body of jurors "to perform a solemn
task that the people have reposed upon us."
He promised that senators will diligently examine the pieces of evidence that
will be presented before them.
Enrile said it is not an easy duty since it carries with it a grave and
serious responsibility. With the start of the trial, he said the senators are
now veering away from their main task of legislating.
Although the trial is a political exercise, he said it is "not an excuse nor
a license for us to ignore our responsibility as body of jurors that justice is
served…to conduct with impartiality [the trial]."
He urged everyone to fully cooperate and observe decorum in order that they
may do their jobs.
Absent were Senators Loren Legarda, who is in the United States, and Miriam
Santiago, who is suffering from hypertension. -- by Ira
Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com
Corona's preliminary hearing request denied by Ira
Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com Posted at 01/16/2012 3:20 PM | Updated as of 01/16/2012
6:16 PM
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Senator-judges denied on Monday Chief
Justice Renato Corona's request for a preliminary hearing.
This means that the members of the defense panel will not be able to present
evidence to prove their claim that the impeachment complaint is defective and
should be dismissed outright.
Presiding Judge and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said he is allowing
the trial to proceed with the main allegations of the prosecution.
Corona's lead counsel, Serafin Cuevas, reiterated their request for
preliminary hearing, and denied this was intended to delay the proceedings.
"We are not delaying the proceedings…we are just asserting our right to due
process which is in accordance with the Constitution," he said.
He said Corona was not given notice and hearing to make a rebuttal of the
allegations in the impeachment proceedings before the House of Representatives.
The prosecution tried to present its private lawyer, but was immediately
thwarted by Enrile.
Speaking for the prosecution instead, chief prosecutor Rep. Niel Tupas said
"it is in our sphere to initiate a complaint." He added the complaint was
verified and duly supported by more than one-third of the lower House and later
approved in plenary.
The first day of hearing ended less than two hours after it started.
We're not shocked, says Corona lawyer
In a separate interview with ANC, lawyer Tranquil Salvador III said they
already expected the Senate would quash their request for a preliminary hearing.
"We discussed this as a possibility, that it would happen. We were not
shocked," he said. He hoped that "we will still be given the chance to present
our side."
Despite the setback, Salvador said it was on a positive note that the first
day of trial ended with a warning from Enrile.
Enrile said "the people have no authority to try this case and so therefore,
we request [everyone] to exercise a degree of caution in exposing evidence in
public."
He said the public "is not under oath" and cannot try Corona in the same way.
In the last 2 weeks, House prosecutors had presented pieces of evidence,
particularly on Corona's alleged real estate properties, even before the start
of the trial.
Corona quiet after 1st trial day by Ron Gagalac,
ABS-CBN News Posted at 01/16/2012 4:54 PM | Updated as of 01/16/2012 9:05 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Renato Corona kept mum after his
impeachment trial adjourned on the first day.
After the presiding officer Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile banged the
gavel, Corona exited through the door designated for senators. With him was his
wife Tina and Court Administrator Midas Marquez.
He proceeded to the Senate's Office of the Deputy Secretary for Legislation
for an unknown activity inside the room.
When he came out, a barrage of questions from the media were thrown at him,
but Corona refused to utter even a single word.
The questions ranged from his observations on the conduct of the proceedings,
the denial of his motion for preliminary hearing, his motivation for attending
the first day of the impeachment, and many others.
He was just all smiles while walking towards the exit.
The Senate security used the backdoor as Corona's exit point until he rode
his gray Mitsubishi Pajero.
At least 6 vehicles were seen as part of Corona's convoy that left the Senate
parking area at around 4 p.m.
Embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona is leaving the outcome of his
impeachment trial up to God but is determined to clear his name. "Where this
will come to he leaves it to God but he is determined to fight this out and
clear his name and be able to tell our people that he is hiding nothing from
them and he respects the process and the institution that will try him and he
will meet all the allegations against him head on," Corona's lawyer Ramon
Esguerra said. ANC Headstart, January 16, 2012
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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