Corona, kin may testify for defense, his lawyers say

MANILA, Philippines—Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona and his family may still testify in his own trial in the Senate but only as witnesses for the defense team, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

“That’s an option that we could consider if that’s necessary,” said lawyer Tranquil Salvador, a member of the defense team, of his client’s possible appearance in the impeachment trial.

And the same option, Salvador said, may also be considered with regards to Corona’s wife, Cristina and children –Carla, Charina and n Francis.

But Salvador refused to say if Corona had expressed willingness to testify for the defense team.

“I have to be honest with you, that’s part of our strategy,” the lawyer said.

During Tuesday’s trial, the Senate acting as an impeachment court, rejected a motion by the prosecution panel to summon Corona and his family.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, one of the judges in the trial, explained that with the court ruling on the motion, the prosecutors may no longer ask the Senate again to subpoena the Corona family even for other allegations contained in the complaint against the Chief Justice.

“If they request for a subpoena again, it will be denied again because the reason does not disappear. The reason is the relationship,” Pimentel said over the phone.

While he voted in favor of an appeal to amend the ruling , the senator said he would stick to the decision of the majority if the prosecution would insist on requiring the Coronas to appear before the impeachment court.