“ONLY I can scream here,” Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said yesterday as she again “jolted” fellow senator-judges, members of the prosecution and defense panels, and spectators from their apparent boredom during the resumption of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

She made the statement while private prosecutor Arthur Lim and retired Justice Serafin Cuevas, Corona’s lead counsel, were arguing over the presentation of documents concerning the chief magistrate’s alleged questionable purchase of properties in Metro Manila and his non-filing of income tax return.

“Do not treat me as a mere observer. This is not a school of oratorical skills. Ano ba ang istorya nitong ITR? I-establish n’yo,” Santiago told Lim and Cuevas as she  apparently took offense that the two lawyers continued to argue about the prosecution’s plan to present Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares as witness against Corona.

Apparently, Serafin and Lim were not able to notice that Santiago was already standing in front of the podium while Henares was waiting at the witness stand whether she would be allowed to testify on the authenticity of Corona’s income tax documents.    

“I am in strong support of the ruling of the chair (Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile). I  already made a point that she can’t testify on the allegation against the Chief Justice whether this is true or not. She’s only an attesting officer and not an expert witness,” Santiago said.  

She almost scolded Lim for attempting to have Henares testify on the contents of Corona’s ITR and not just merely to authenticate its genuineness despite Enrile’s ruling that the BIR would not assess the contents of Corona’s ITR. Santiago wanted Henares to testify immediately and be “sent home.”

“Nagkasundo na pala tayo eh. Ang pagtatanong lang, nasaan ang ITR ni Chief Justice na na-file sa BIR. Tapos na. Wala na tayong pinagtatalunan. Next witness na. Tapos na ang babaeng (Henares) ito. Pauwiin mo na siya. May trabaho pa siya. Wala siyang first hand knowledge. She would be testifying on hearsay. Huwag mo kaming pilitin kung ano ang aming gagawain. She is not the proper witness. You are in danger of contempt,” Santiago barked at Lim.

Sen. Joker Arroyo then asked Henares whether she was able to obtain the authority of President Benigno Aquino III in presenting Corona’s ITR. She said:”I obtained authority from the President.” Arroyo did not question her further.

Lim said that he would offer the testimony of Henares to prove the alleged illegal acts that Corona committed. The prosecution would show that Corona “acquired properties as declared in his SALNs which are not justified by his income as reported to the BIR.” It would show that Corona had “tried to hide some of these properties in the names of his children and said properties are still owned by him.” Lim added: ”However these were not declared in his SALN.” 

Cuevas objected to Henares’ prepared testimony. “We object to the purpose of the offer. She would be testifying on her personal knowledge. Secondly, my understanding is any and all scintilla of evidence are proscribed by the ruling of this Court.”   Bernadette E. Tamayo