MANILA, Philippines – In compliance with Senator-Judge Miriam Defensor Santiago’s request, the prosecution panel will submit Friday their list of witnesses and documents on Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
In a text message, lead prosecutor and Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. said they would be submitting the list of witnesses and documents to the Senate’s secretariat acting as the Clerk of Couras requested by Santiago.
Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment refers to Corona’s alleged failure to submit his statement of assets, liabilities and networth.
Marikina Representative Romero Quimbo, in a separate interview, affirmed Tupas’ earlier text message saying that they will submit the list “within the day”. However, he said he could not say exactly how many witnesses and documents were in the list since they were still finalizing.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Santiago was irked by the prosecution team’s failure to categorically say how many witnesses and documents they will be presenting throughout the entire impeachment trial.
“You come to court prepared!” An irate Santiago exclaimed during the sixth day of the trial which was also her first day sitting as a Senator-judge after a week-long absence due to hypertension.
Meanwhile, during the same hearing, defense team leader former Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas said that they will present 15 witnesses and that they have submitted 23 pieces of documentary evidence. He added that they would submit 25 more before they finish their presentation.
Originally posted: 11:22 am | Friday, January 27th, 2012