Color of royalty better than ‘tomato sauce’ red

Expect the senator-judges to wear robes of a darker shade of red—maroon, to be exact—when they convene as an impeachment court on Monday for the trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Lawyer Valentina Cruz, the spokesperson of the impeachment court, said the new batch of robes was expected to arrive on Saturday, giving the Senate staff enough time to distribute them to the senators.

Cruz admitted at a news conference Monday that many of the senators were unhappy with the original red robes they wore in early December last year when they were sworn in as members of the impeachment court.

“I think not everybody was happy with the original robes given to them,” she said.

Sen. Miriam Santiago told the Philippine Daily Inquirer then that the senators were  expecting a shade of red called cambridge, which is used by court officials and members of royalty in other parts of the world.

What they got instead was a shade similar to tomato sauce that Sen. Francis Pangilinan described as “fighting red.” When worn, the bulky robes were comparable to but much less graceful than toreador robes.

Even the fit of the original robes on the senator-judges came in for  criticism—many of the senators looked like they had put on weight.

‘Defective’ complaint

Several senators also complained that the fabric was “itchy” and “too warm.”

Cruz said that while the new robes would have a cut very similar to the original ones, the improved version would provide a better fit.

“We have ordered a different set made of a different material but with a similar design,” Cruz said in Filipino.

“We noted that the old ones were not comfortable because they were too warm and the fabric was heavy.  The order should arrive by Jan. 14,” she added.

‘Defective’ complaint

Cruz said the impeachment court was expected to first rule on the motion of Corona’s defense lawyers for a preliminary hearing on alleged constitutional defects of the verified complaint filed by 188 congressmen against the Chief Justice.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has asked the prosecutors of the House of Representatives to comment on the defense panel’s contention that the articles of impeachment were defective.

Corona’s counsel wants the issue settled before the senator-judges proceed to try the impeached Supreme Court chief.

Cruz said a ruling on the motion was likely to be rendered shortly after Enrile bangs the gavel signaling the start of the trial at 2 p.m.

10 minutes each

Cruz said that Enrile, as presiding officer of the impeachment proceedings, had already issued an order giving the House prosecution panel and Corona’s defense team 10 minutes each to make their opening statements.

After the opening statements, a ruling is expected to be handed down on the defense plea for preliminary hearing on the supposed defects in the impeachment complaint.

“If the motion is denied, the trial will proceed,” Cruz told reporters.

If the motion is granted, the defense lawyers will be allowed to present evidence to back up their contention that the charges against Corona  should be dismissed outright, Cruz said.

The Chief Justice is not required under the rules to appear in his trial. “But even if he does not appear, he will be represented by his lawyers,” Cruz said.