Prosecution member in Corona trial accuses defense of ‘delaying tactics’

MANILA, Philippines—A member of the House prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona accused the defense of engaging in delaying tactics by calling for the inhibition of Senator-Judge Franklin Drilon from the trial.

In a statement on Monday, Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares said, “CJ Corona’s legal defense team’s move to inhibit Senator Drilon is delaying tactics meant to put a chilling effect on the senators.”

“It may be a dangerous trap to pave Corona’s filing of a petition with temporary restraining order (TRO) with the Supreme Court to stop the impeachment after his SALN [statement of assets, liabilities and networth] was exposed and found questionable,” Neri said.

Over the weekend, defense counsel Ramon Esguerra said they will seek the inhibition of Drilon, a stalwart of President Aquino’s Liberal Party.

Last week Drilon did what prosecutors from the House of Representatives and their private counsels failed to do by successfully convincing their own witness, Supreme Court clerk of court Enriqueta Esguerra-Vidal to submit Corona’s SALNs.

The senator was also able to make Randy Rutaquio, Taguig City register of deeds, testify that Corona had acted as an “attorney in fact” for his daughter in the sale of a property on Oct. 21, 2008.

Colmenares said Drilon’s questions were reasonable and logical.

“A study of the transcripts will show that the clerk (of court) previously answered no to Attorney (Mario) Bautista’s question if she brought the SALN with her. In fact she (Vidal) can be charged with perjury for lying at the impeachment proceedings,” Colmenares said.