Former Supreme Court justice leads Corona defense at Senate trial

Jose Midas Marquez INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

A retired Supreme Court justice, a constitutionalist, a former law school dean and a known public interest lawyer are among the lawyers who will defend impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona in his impeachment trial at the Senate, which will start early next year.

The Supreme Court spokesperson and administrator, Jose Midas Marquez, on Monday said retired Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas would lead a group of “seasoned law practitioners” in defending Corona.

“They were the ones who volunteered and offered their services to the Chief Justice for free,” Marquez told reporters in a news briefing.

“This is just an initial list. There are other lawyers who will be joining the team once the hearing proper starts,” he said.

The other members of the defense panel are Ernesto Francisco Jr., Jose Roy III, Jacinto Jimenez, Dennis Manalo and German Lichauco II.

INC member

Cuevas, 83, served as justice secretary during the administration of President Joseph Estrada, and served as his counsel in his plunder trial at the Sandiganbayan.

A known member of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo, Cuevas also served as an associate justice of the Court of Appeals, a judge in the defunct Court of First Instance, a prosecutor in Manila, and a law professor.

Francisco is a law professor at Ateneo de Manila University and a public interest lawyer. He filed a petition in the Supreme Court that momentarily prevented the implementation of the toll increase in major expressways early this year.

He also worked with the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz law offices.

Roy is a former law dean and president of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Jimenez is a “resident constitutional expert and longtime professor” of Ateneo, Marquez said.

Both Lichauco and Manalo were members of the known Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako law office.

Corona may inhibit himself from the cases being handled by his lawyers, Marquez said.