MANILA, Philippines—A lawyer on Monday filed a motion to cite the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona for contempt of court.
In a six-page “urgent” motion filed before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court, Fernando Perito asked the Senate to cite all members of the prosecution team for indirect contempt of court for exposing their evidence against Corona in a press conference last week.
“This bunch of eager prosecutors should be cited for indirect contempt of court even as they should be ordered to stop from poisoning the public with their now awkward position,” Perito said in his motion.
Perito, who claimed to be a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, denied that he was in any way connected with Corona or the defense team.
He said he filed the motion because he was “appalled by the irresponsible behavior” of the prosecution panel headed by Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr.
“It is to movant’s dismay coupled with outrage and indignation that this bunch of prosecutors called the Honorable Gentlemen and Representatives of the people who are lawyers would be conspiring with impunity in their relentless thirst for media exposures to demonize their prey, the Chief Justice,” he further said.
Perito also branded as a “display of ignorance of law and procedure” Tupas’ claim that they could not be cited for contempt because they had not yet entered their appearance in court.
When the House of Representatives “irregularly” endorsed the complaint against Corona, the prosecution panel submitted itself under the absolute jurisdiction of the Senate, said the lawyer.
“Hence, it is now beyond their braggadocio, the luridness of the passion of the prosecutors to rile, condemn and convict the accused by publicity because of their media cravings. Their uncalled-for revelation even goaded non-lawyers in the prosecution to lavish attention on their unquenchable thirst for exposure,” he said.