FROM eight, the House prosecution panel might pare down to only three the articles of impeachment it will pursue against Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The prosecution believes the three articles of impeachment are the strongest.

This is according to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II who expressed optimism that the trial may end next month, before Congress goes on Lenten break.

In a press conference, Belmonte and Gonzales said there is no need to present all the articles because Article II or the failure to disclose to the public his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth, is enough to convict Corona.

Gonzales said the prosecution team will only concentrate on Article II, Article III and Article VII.

“The prosecutors are trying to see how they can fast track the proceedings,” Belmonte said.

“Balak namin by March, sana matapos na ito and the only reason why prosecution is entertaining possibility to trim down baka dahil sa dami ng objections nung defense umabot kami ng March 2013, baka mapilitan kaming iksian ang proseso and perhaps hindi na ituloy lahat ang eight articles,” Gonzales added.

Gonzales said that members of the prosecution panel agreed that the strongest articles are II, III and VII.

The solon said that the bank accounts of Corona, which were not truthfully declared in the SALN, are enough evidence to convict him of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

Gonzales said that the court could no longer wait for the dollar account, which a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court prevented from being opened.

“Sa Article II pa lang we are pretty confident na, so meron ng sufficient evidence. Kung hintayin pa ng prosecution ang dollar account abutin na tayo ng siyam siyam,” the House leader added.

Belmonte said the team is now discussing the possibility of also trimming down the number of witnesses to be presented.

“It’s a subject of discussion, but we definitely want to end the proceedings before the Lenten break,” Belmonte said.

Article III is the failure to meet and observe the stringent provision under the Constitution that a member of the judiciary must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.

Article VII is on Corona’s alleged partiality in granting a TRO in favor of Mrs. Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo in order to give them an opportunity to escape prosecution and to frustrate the ends of justice, and in distorting the SC decision on the effectivity of the TRO in view of a clear failure to comply with the conditions of the SC’s own TRO. Jester P. Manalastas