SENATE President Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday dismissed observation that some of the senator-judges had apparently “lost” their neutrality in Wednesday’s impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona when some of them supposedly aided the prosecution in securing evidence against the Supreme Court head.

“Hindi naman. Let that impression be a function of the public. If they have that impression, then they can punish us,” said Enrile, who serves as the impeachment court presiding officer.

He stressed that point when asked about insinuations that some of his colleagues helped the prosecution panel to secure Corona’s statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) from the High Tribunal’s Clerk of Court, Enriquetta Vidal.

It was Sen. Franklin Drilon who managed to “force” Vidal to admit that she had brought with her copies of Corona’s SALN which were subpoenaed by the impeachment court. Drilon immediately asked Vidal to surrender these documents but Vidal had tried to hold on to these, saying that she had yet to seek permission from the Supreme Court first.

Senators Edgardo Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Teofisto Guingona III, Francis Pangilinan and Aquilino Pimentel III took turns in “convincing” Vidal to submit Corona’s SALN. In the end, Enrile ruled ordering Vidal to release the documents to the body.

Enrile declined to indicate up to what point he would be lenient in allowing fellow senator-judges in asking questions to the witnesses. “Hindi ko sasabihin sa inyo. Do not ask me what I will do,” he told mediamen in a chance interview.  

Meanwhile, Angara yesterday assured the public that his objectivity and impartiality as a senator-judge will not be impaired by the position of his son, Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, who acts as deputy spokesperson of the prosecution panel.

“He declined the offer to be a prosecutor and only accepted the role of spokesperson precisely to avoid any issues of conflict. Furthermore, a spokesperson only reflects the opinion and position of the group he represents, and does not take an antagonistic position toward a judge,” the elder Angara said.

“Insinuations that I can influence the decisions of Rep. Angara and he can mine are utterly unfounded and speculative. We are fully capable of fair and just judgment,” the senator said who was former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines