Senate assures ‘orderly and secure’ proceeding which starts Monday

THE Senate yesterday vowed an orderly and secure trial of the impeachment case against Chief Justice Renato Corona which starts Monday.

At a press briefing yesterday, Senate impeachment trial spokesperson Maria Valentina Cruz, Senate executive director for legislation Renato Bantug, Dir. Sammy Santos of the Print Media Service and Senate Sergeant-At-Arms retired Major. Gen. Jose Balajadia bared the full range of preparations ordered by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for the trial.

For the historic event, more than 1,000 members of the media have applied for accreditation, Santos said. A system has been put in place in order to accommodate the applicants without sacrificing the integrity of the proceedings.

Santos said Enrile has given specific instructions that no media reporting or interviews will be allowed inside the plenary hall and the second floor hallways in order not to disrupt the proceedings.

A separate coverage ID has been issued for the members of the press and Santos said the “No ID, no entry” policy inside the plenary and other areas would be strictly observed.

Balajadia for his part said the entire Senate premises have been secured with additional forces coming from the K-9 unit of the Philippine Air Force and manpower from the Philippine National Police.

“We have not received any potential threat but we are ready for any eventuality,” Balajadia stressed.

Security Enforcement Service director Manuel Parlade said their personnel have been tasked to secure the Senate building while the police contingent detailed at the Senate will man the parking lot and the immediate areas outside.

A 40-man team from the PNP will act as the civil disturbance and crowd control contingent located near the Manila Film Center in case of public demonstrations.

The Senate officials also added that the chamber’s legislative calendar would not be affected by the trial.

“The regular session will start in the morning and the trial will start after lunch,” Santos pointed out.

Separate rooms for the prosecution panel, the defense panel and the media covering the event have also been prepared, added Bantug.

A primer on the rules of procedure to be followed during the trial was also distributed.