Aquino denies asking Senate allies to aid Corona prosecutors

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Friday denied issuing instructions to his allies in the Senate to help the House prosecution panel prove its case against impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Mr. Aquino made the denial amid allegations by some quarters that some senators, in asking for clarificatory questions, were aiding the prosecutors such as when Sen. Franklin Drilon’s questioning of  Supreme Court clerk of court Enriquetta Vidal elicited an admission she had with her copies of Corona’s most recent statements of net worth.

But there were equally questions by some senators that appeared to favor Corona.

“Even if I just suggest an instruction to the senators, many among them would raise a protest. That is not the way it should work between co-equal branches of government,” Mr. Aquino told reporters.

“So we hope that the evidence that would be presented and those that have been presented would be sufficient to come to a conclusion as regards our accusations against the chief justice,” he added.