MANILA, Philippines–The prosecution team will ask the Senate to immediately proceed with the impeachment trial and conviction of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, its spokesman said on Monday.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
“Our first prayer is to deny Corona’s plea for the dismissal of the complaint. Second, let’s proceed to trial forthwith and third, to render judgment of conviction” Marikina City Representative Romero Quimbo said over the phone.
Quimbo said the prosecution team’s reply to Corona’s plea would be around 40 pages long.
The Senate acting as an impeachment court for Corona has given theprosecution team five days or until Monday (January 2, 2012) to answer the respondent’s petition for the dismissal of the impeachment case filed against him.
But the prosecution team would insist for Corona’s removal from office, saying he is the “biggest coddler” in the Supreme Court of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“The impeachment will strengthen the judiciary by removing GMA’s (Arroyo’s initials) influence in the SC-CJ Corona,” said the prosecution team chief, Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr, in a text message.
“He (Corona) is GMA’s biggest coddler in the Supreme Court,’ Tupas added.
The prosecution team also hit Corona for allegedly hiding behind the cloak of collegiality and legal technicalities to delay the trial or avoid accountability.
“Collegial action is not a defense. We seek accountability of Corona on his personal vote favoring GMA’s interest as his personal accountability,” Tupas said.
He said they they would also counter Corona’s allegation that the complaint was instigated by President Benigno Aquino III and the Liberal Party.
“The complaint was filed and will be prosecuted by members of the House of Representatives belonging to different political parties as direct representatives of the people as a sovereign action. The President and the LP only supported the sovereign action,” Tupas pointed out.