Senators should ignore the magistrates if they move to block the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona beginning Jan. 16, a member of the House prosecution team said on Sunday.
Rep. Joseph E. A. Abaya of Cavite outlined options open to the Upper House if the court issues a temporary restraining order (TRO) on several petitions questioning the swiftness with which 188 congressmen signed eight articles of impeachment against Corona earlier this month.
He said the senators could “assert their constitutional mandate and ignore the TRO or be subservient and desert their constitutional obligation,” said Abaya in a text message.
Abaya said it would be interesting to see how the senators would react to the court’s “interference” in congressional affairs.
“Let’s listen to the senators so we can separate the grain from the chaff. In a standoff, we should go back to the basic principle of separation of powers. The sovereign will all be watching. All power emanate from the people,” said Abaya who echoed President Aquino’s populist rhetoric to justify his desire to oust Corona.
At least three petitions were lodged with the court enjoining the Senate from trying the chief justice, pointing out that the impeachment complaint was completed in just five hours from presentation to transmittal to the Senate.
The civilian petitioners claimed that the lawmakers who signed the petition to impeach Corona were coerced into signing the document they had not read or studied in depth.
Although the prosecution team was worried that the high tribunal was dominated by appointees of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Abaya said it was now too late for the court to block Corona’s trial.