As 2 Corona counsels withdrew, 2 lawyers file ‘entry of appearance’ at Senate

MANILA, Philippines—Two lawyers for Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona have entered their appearance before the Senate acting as an impeachment court ahead of the reported resignations of two of Corona’s counsels.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona

The “entry of appearance” of lawyers Ramon Esguerra and Tranquil Salvador III was filed at the Senate Monday or just hours before the resignations of two members of the defense team—lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. and former Court of Appeals Justice Hector Hofilena—were reported in the media.

Francisco confirmed the report but refused to say why he withdrew from the case.

“The undersigned counsels, for and behalf CJ Corona, most respectfully enter their appearance as co-counsel in the above-entitled case,” it said.

The new counsels for Corona also requested that they be furnished notices and other processes of the impeachment court.