Corona eyes outside intervention over bank documents

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona is eyeing another venue outside the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, to question its ruling allowing bank officials and documents to be presented in the ongoing trial of Corona.

Corona’s lead counsel, former Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas, indicated this on Tuesday when senators insisted on the impeachment rules prohibiting both the defense and prosecution panels to seek a motion for reconsideration on any ruling of the chamber.

“If it’s a fact and a policy of this impeachment court that no motion for consideration may be made by any counsel whether for the prosecution or the defense, then where else are we going to go in order to question the validity and the legality of any ruling of this court?” Cuevas asked the Senate.

“We can’t seek any reconsideration here. The only remedy probably will be a petition for review on certiorari, which requires the filing of motion for reconsideration. But if it’s definitely the rule of this body that no motion for reconsideration may be entertained , then we feel that we are free to proceed with a petition without resulting to a formal motion for reconsideration,” he said.

“If it’s clear that we can’t raise the legality of this ruling before this court, then we will have no other alternative but to seek other venue your honor,” Cuevas added.

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, the presiding officer, welcomed Cueva’s move.

Enrile said it was well within the right and privilege of the defense and the prosecution teams to take all legal remedies but cautioned anyone against stopping the impeachment proceeding.

“Anyone can take whatever legal remedies they want to take in a proper case. The only thing that I think this chair will take exemption to is for anyone to stop the trial in this chamber because the Constitution says once the articles of impeachment reaches this house, trial in the Senate shall forthwith begin and it’s given a sole power to try and decide this case,” the Senate leader pointed out.