Prosecution solon to face ex-professor Cuevas in Corona trial

MANILA, Philippines—A member of the prosecution team will be up against his former professor, ex- Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, when the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona resumes Thursday.

But Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. will not be cowed by Cuevas, Corona’s lead counsel, as he expressed readiness to argue the case against the Chief Justice.

Cuevas was Barzaga’s professor in criminal law review in Far Eastern University.

On Thursday, the two are expected to face each other when Barzaga conducts a direct examination of the witnesses against Cuevas’ client.

“I don’t want to predict but I’m unpredictable,” said Barzaga, the lead prosecutor for Article 2 of impeachment pertaining to Corona’s alleged failure to disclose his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

He refused to say if he was prepared or nervous to face his former professor.

“Tingnan na lang natin mamaya (Let’s see later) what will happen. But we will do our very best to present our evidence,” said Barzaga.

Cuevas had previously stated that the defense panel would block any attempt by the prosecutors to bring up new evidence and arguments against Corona outside the allegations contained in the impeachment complaint.