STRESSING that the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona is not a “beauty contest,” Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday said the senator-judges are expected to resolve the case based on evidence and not due to public opinion.
He stressed this point as he observed that the prosecution and defense panels as well as some concerned groups were trying to “appeal to the emotion of the public” by hiring supposed legal consultants who regularly “analyze” the proceedings in radio and television interviews.
“Hindi naman beauty contest ito. Hindi kami kikiling kahit kanino. Kung ikaw ay referree, ikaw ay patas. Nasa gitna. Kung beauty contest ito, may preference,” Enrile said in a radio interview.
“Nakakalungkot. Kami naman iginagalang namin ang freedom to information. Pero sana ang gumagawa ng mga ganyang pagsusuri sa labas ng paglilitis ay ‘wag lagyan ng slant. Factual dapat,” he said.
Asked what he would advice the public, Enrile said: “Dapat pag-aralan nila ang simbolo ng katarungan. Iyung istatwa ng babae na nakapiring ang mga mata. Hindi niya kilala ‘yung nasasakdal. Hindi niya kilala ang nagpaparatang. Sa kanang kamay may hawak na espada. Sa kaliwang kamay, timbangan.”
“Iyung espada sa kanang kamay, ‘yun ang (kumakatawan sa) kapangyarihan ng batas. Iyung timbangan sa kaliwang kamay ay (simbolo ng) sukatan ng ebidensya,” he added.
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : Top Stories | Views : 129
By : Jester Manalastas
AN arrest warrant against former Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca was issued yesterday after the Sandiganbayan 5th Division found probable cause in the graft and malversation cases filed against her. Associate Justice Ronald Jurado signed the warrant of arrest. Padaca was allowed to post bail of P40,000 for malversation and P30,000... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : Top Stories | Views : 119
By : Marlon Purificacion
ARE you arresting me? Ito umano ang tanong ni Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona nang harangin ni Senate Sergeant-At-Arms ret. Gen. Jose Balajadja matapos magtangkang mag-walk-out Martes ng hapon. Inilahad ni Balajadja sa Senate media ang naging karanasan nito matapos harangin ang tangkang ‘pagtakas’ ni Corona. “I wanted to show... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : Top Stories | Views : 106
By : Hector Lawas
CHIEF Justice Renato Corona failed to appear in yesterday’s continuation of his impeachment trial after suffering a possible heart attack. Supreme Court spokesman and concurrent Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said Corona was rushed to The Medical City in Pasig City Tuesday night and was later wheeled into the intensive... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : Top Stories | Views : 100
RETIRED Justice Serafin Cuevas, the lead counsel of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, dismissed speculations that the embattled Supreme Court head is preparing for a “mistrial” as he expressed confidence that his client will be acquitted of the charges against him. “Tingnan n’yo, hindi galing sa amin ‘yan,” Cuevas... Read more
Published : Thursday May 24, 2012 | Category : Top Stories | Views : 124
PATHETIC. This was how Sen.Franklin Drilon described the supposed “game-plan” of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona allowing concerned agencies to scrutinize his dollar accounts on condition that those who had filed the impeachment case against him also sign a waiver on their dollar deposits. Corona stunned the Senate,... Read more
