Public prosecution hit

IMPEACHED Chief Justice Renato Corona, through one of his lawyers, yesterday objected to the “unbridled dissemination” of supposed evidence against him by the House prosecution panel ahead of the scheduled removal process against the Supreme Court head next week.

In a six-page manifestation Corona counsel Jose Roy III asked the senator-judges to impose disciplinary action against the members of the House prosecution panel , led by Rep.Niel Tupas, Jr., for their alleged premature presentation of evidence against the chief magistrate concerning the latter’s alleged questionable ownership of a condominium unit in Taguig City worth P14.5 million.

Roy noted that last January 3, Tupas and fellow Reps. Jose Emilio Abaya, Lorenzo Tañada III, Reynaldo Umali, Arlene Bag-ao, presented to the media a copy of Deed of Sale of Corona’s condominium unit which they said could be used in the graft and corruption case against Corona.

“This assertion in a press conference insinuating a possible illegal acquisition of property of CJ Corona runs roughshod over the peremptory language of Rule XVIII of the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials promulgated by the Senate,” he said.

He was referring to the instruction to all parties to “refrain from making any comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial.” Roy said that the panel’s actuation was an “affront to the impeachment court, whose constitutional mandate is to pass judgment on the complaint.”

“Accordingly, CJ Corona strongly manifests his objection to the prosecution’s unbridled dissemination of information or documents, which may not even be admissible in evidence or relevant to the case. He also manifests his conformity to the authority of the honorable impeachment court under Rule V in relation to Rule XVIII of the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials to issue or promulgate any interim or disciplinary measures to enforce and carry into effect its legal mandate,” Roy said.

He also said that Tupas’ attempt to justify his actuation was “even more unfortunate” since he maintained that he did not touch on the merits of the case.  “Evidently, Mr.Tupas has all intention to publicize information or documents against CJ Corona despite knowledge of the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials,” Roy said.

“These rules seek to prevent undue speculation from the general public regarding the merits of the case and insulate the senator-judges from influence or pressure outside the proceedings before them to ensure a fair, impartial and credible trial,” he said.

Roy added:”Against these purposes, the prosecution’s recent tack, no less than that of its chief prosecutor, is a clever ruse to destroy the image of CJ Corona before the bar of public opinion and generate a negative public perception of his guilt ahead of the impeachment trial. No question about the malice and insidious motives can be heard, considering that the acquisition of the condominium unit was candidly admitted and explained in paragraph 12 of Article II of the answer filed by CJ Corona.”