THE House prosecution panel is bent on trying impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona before "the bar of public opinion" and not the Senate, the constitutionally-mandated impeachment court.

Corona's lawyers stressed this yesterday as they deplored the apparent motive of the prosecutors in launching a shame campaign against the Supreme Court head and his immediate family members.

Ramon Esguerra, one of Corona's counsels, said the defense team, "which has been placed in a disadvantageous situation, has persistently complained of trial by publicity resorted to by the prosecution (team).”

“We are all witnesses to a pattern, now very clear, that Chief Justice's (Corona's) detractors would not stop attacking him and his family," Esguerra said in a statement.

He added: "Their honor besmirched by these assassins of character, we remain steadfast with our duty to disprove the malicious accusations and pray that vindication, as bright as the noontime sun, will come to pass."

"Even as we approach the state of boredom and impatience, we appeal for sobriety and fairness to our people. All of us must ensure a fair and credible trial. We abide by the rules difficult as it is in our case. The prohibition against discussing the case's merits in public is in our consciousness," he said.

Tranquil Salvador, one of Corona's spokespersons, said that in dealing with inquiries from media they see to it that they would "only report on the outcome of the daily trial without preempting the Senate on its appreciation of any evidence presented."

"The responsible members of media, a lot of them, have already seen the prosecution's strategy. They appear to prosecute Chief Justice in the impeachment court and outside the trial, persecute CJ before the public. Tell me if that is fair and just," Esguerra said.