THE defense lawyers of embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona have appealed to the Senate impeachment court to exercise its contempt powers to stop the House prosecution panel from “crucifying” the Supreme Court head in public.

They lamented that the prosecutors were being “aided by a network and its assets in the bar of public opinion.” Ramon Escguerra, Corona’s spokesperson, stressed that the Impeachment Court is the proper venue to convict or clear Corona of charges of culpable violation of the Constitution as well as graft and corruption.  

“Kaya nga tayo may impeachment court para dito ang paglilitis hindi tulad ng ginagawa ng prosekusyon simula pa ng umpisa.  May karapatan si Chief Justice tulad ni Juan dela Cruz,” Esguerra said in a statement.

The defense team took exception to the online posting at 1:46 a.m. yesterday by a tv network entitled: “Corona has secret dollar account?”  Esguerra said the sources of the story “are unnamed House prosecutors.”

He also lamented the appearance of the lead prosecutor, Rep. Niel Tupas, Jr., on another television station “discussing the merits of the case.” Tupas apparently claimed during the same interview that Corona “was not accurate in his SALN, among others.”

“If that is how the prosecution and their media associates handle this impeachment, we are alarmed that the act of the Senate is already being undermined.  Imagine, having two trials: the Senate and the public, aided by some networks,” Esguerra said.

“If the right of our client will be continually pilloried publicly on so-called evidence, never presented or entered into the trial, then we might as well save the money of Juan dela Cruz and stop this charade or stop the live coverage of the hearings, so we stop the pandering, innuendoes and spins. Masyado na pong bastusan itong ginagawa ng prosecution sa media,” he said.