Prosecution conditioning public’s mind on Corona’s guilt, says defense

MANILA, Philippines – The defense panel on Thursday said that the prosecution was trying to condition the people regarding Chief Justice Renato Corona’s guilt already while the trial was ongoing.

Lawyer Tranquil Salvador III, spokesman for the defense, said that the prosecution was using as a “smokescreen” all the documents they have been showing media.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile during the session warned all parties regarding the release of documents that have been marked, but not yet admitted, as evidence.

Salvador said the prosecution has not produced any “substantial evidence” yet before the court but were already making allegations about Corona’s guilt before the media by releasing documents marked as evidence.

Lawyer Paolo Quicho said the “only documents that can be disclosed are those that have been offered already and admitted as evidence.”

“We are confident that all their allegations are baseless. When the time comes when we produce our evidence, they will see that all the allegations are baseless,” Quicho said.

“We already have a process, all parties should respect,” Quicho said.

Salvador said that if the prosecution continued to disclose documents that have not yet been admitted, they could make a manifestation against the actions of the prosecution, and could also file a motion to cite them for contempt of court.