For presenting evidence outside Senate court, Enrile warns Tupas, others

MANILA, Philippines—Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile on Thursday dared the prosecution team to just withdraw the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona if they would continue to present their evidence outside the Senate.

Enrile said the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, is the only proper venue for the prosecution team to present their evidence against Corona.

“Kung gusto nilang litisin yung kaso sa labas ng impeachment court e di i-withdraw nila yung kaso at isiwalat nila sa buong mundo yung gusto nilang ebidensya (If they want to try the case outside the impeachment court, then they should withdraw the case and expose whatever evidence they want to the entire world),” he said in a phone interview on Thursday.

Enrile said he would be ‘very lenient’ to the prosecution team but warned that the impeachment court could cite them in contempt for presenting to a press conference documents pertaining to a high-end apartment in Taguig City that was allegedly owned by Corona.

“I’ll be very lenient pero huwag namang lilitisin yung kaso sa labas ng husgado (But don’t try the case outside the court),” he said, “Kung gusto nila na pag usapan yan. Ano pang gagawin namin dun? Isinisiwalat na nila ang ebidensya sa buong mundo. (If they want to talk about it, then they have to withdraw the articles of impeachment and then talk about it outside.)

Enrile specifically trained his gun at the chief prosecutor, Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr., who made public disclosure of the documents against Corona.

“Sabihin mo kay Cong. Tupas mag aral muna sya (Tell Cong. Tupas to study the rules),” said the Senate leader when told of the lawmaker’s remark that he had not violated the impeachment rules.

Enrile also slammed the prosecutors for saying they were not yet covered by the rules since they have not yet entered their appearance before the impeachment court.

“E ano yung sinalang nilang kaso? He’s (Tupas) a complainant e. Ano ba? Naiintindihan nya ba ang ginagawa nya? Nandun ang pangalan nya dun sa complaint. Sya ang complainant. Ano ba sya? He’s not only a lawyer, he’s a complainant, my God! Naiintindihan nya ba ang ginagawa nya? (Does he understand what he’s doing? His name is there in the complaint. He’s the complainant),” Enrile said.

Enrile explained that when the prosecutors signed the complaint and filed it in the Senate, they have submitted under the jurisdiction of the court.