ONE of the impeachment complainants against Chief Justice Renato Corona has urged the prosecution team, defense panel and even the senator-judges to just stick to the impeachment case and stop discussing petty side issues.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño expressed disappointment over the slow impeachment proceedings which he described as becoming exasperating.

Casiño appealed to the senator-judges to focus on the essential aspects of the case.

“We have had enough of the prosecution’s fumbling and incompetence just as we have had enough of the defense’s use of technicalities and intrigues to muddle the issues. We need more forthrightness and sincerity on both sides,” Casiño said.

Casiño is among the 188 lawmakers who signed the Articles of Impeachment which was immediately sent to the Senate for trial.

“At the same time, we are worried that the side issues are starting to muddle the case even more, with the search for ‘small ladies’ and tipsters taking time and attention from the main issues. The fact is, the banks have already revealed details of Corona’s undeclared accounts. It is of little matter who the tipster was or how amateurish the prosecution team was in following up anonymous tips,” he said.

He stressed that the impeachment court has no time to waste since the time given to the trial is time taken away from Congress’ legislative duties.

Both houses of Congress should do everything to expedite the trial so that we can address the equally important issues of high oil and power rates and lack of jobs and livelihoods that our people face,” he said.                                      Jester P. Manalastas