Elevating Corona trial to SC a defense ‘strategy’, says prosecution

Lead House prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. Photo by Matikas Santos

MANILA, Philippines – Iloilo representative Niel Tupas said they had a feeling that the defense would look to the Supreme Court as a last resort for the impeachment case of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“It looks like that is their strategy,” said Tupas, lead counsel for the prosecution. He said that the defense’s lead counsel, Serafin Cuevas, hinted at going to the Supreme Court during debates about the rules on who could file for motions for reconsideration.

“We expect the defense to do everything because the issue of bank accounts is very critical and crucial,” Tupas said. “Especially the dollar account … in PSBank,” he added.

Tupas however said that because the Senate has the “sole power to try and decide the case” under the Constitution, “even the Supreme Court cannot reverse the decision of the Senate impeachment tribunal.”

When asked if there could be a constitutional crisis, Tupas said, “It’s too premature to say … because there is no action yet.”

Tupas said that “these incidents should be resolved by the impeachment tribunal rather than the Supreme Court.”

Tupas said that the impeachment trial was the last resort of the people to hold the Chief Justice accountable as a public official. “If we question the opening and scrutinizing of bank accounts of [the chief justice], what other remedy do the people have?”