Not all 100 witnesses in impeachment trial will be presented, says private prosecutor

MANILA, Philippines–A volunteer lawyer, who is part of the prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, clarified on Monday that although their camp had listed down some 100 witnesses to be presented before the senate proceedings, it did not mean that each would have to testify before the court.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel, lawyer Aristotle Batuhan said, “While there are more than a hundred witnesses listed, the prosecution will not need to present all of them.”

He explained that both the prosecution and the defense panels were directed to list down all witnesses and documents to be presented before the impeachment court to avoid surprises.

Batuhan said that the number of witnesses, while seemingly overwhelming, was for all the eight articles of impeachment.

He likewise pointed out that he did not think the trial would be prolonged, saying, “I am still hopeful that the trial will not go beyond three months.”

The lawyer said that a stipulation between the prosecution and the defense panels not to object to every testimony and document would suffice to speed up the process.

Meanwhile, ousted President Estrada, who was also present at the weekly forum, praised President Benigno Aquino III for the latter’s unprecedented “attack” on the judiciary.

“I salute President Noynoy for having the courage to see to it that everything (between the three branches of government) will be equal,” said Estrada, who maintains there was a “connivance of the judiciary in legally ousting” him from office in 2001.

Estrada claimed that then Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., who presided over his impeachment trial, had connived with the prosecution. “(Davide) should have ordered them (prosecution panel) to come back. He allowed them to walk out,” he said.

Estrada said Corona was lucky to have a “very impartial” impeachment court, noting that lessons have since been learned from his impeachment trial, which started November 2000 and ended abruptly three months later.

Estrada, in comparing the past impeachment court to that of the present, said: “There is a vast difference.”