Constitutional crisis looms over Corona bank records, senator says

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson is seeing a looming constitutional crisis when the questions on the subpoena issued by the Senate to bank officials or bank accounts allegedly owned by Chief Justice Renato Corona are raised before the Supreme Court.

Senator Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

“That’s a potential problem,” Lacson told reporters on Wednesday.

“Assuming nagpunta si Chief Justice Corona sa Supreme Court para humingi ng temporary retraining order or certiorari, hypothetical lang ito, assuming nag-issue ng TRO ang SC to stop us from commanding or issuing subpoena or compelling the bank officials to appear, that’s a potential problem. Yan ang constitutional crisis,” he said.

Asked then how the issue could be resolved, Lacson said, “I don’t know how to proceed from there. I just hope the SC will respect the authority of the impeachment court based on the Constitution. Malinaw naman ang Constitution. Walang kasosyo, walang kahati, sole power. Sana kung may qualification sa amin ang power or authority pero walang qualification eh, sole power to try and decide [impeachment cases].”

During Tuesday’s impeachment trial in the Senate, Corona’s lead counsel, former Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas, said they might be forced to take the issue before the high tribunal if filing a motion for reconsideration by either the defense and prosecution panels would be prohibited by the chamber.

“If it is clear that we cannot raise the legality of this ruling before this court, then we’ll have no other alternative but to seek another venue, your honor, “ Cuevas said.

Enrile welcomed Cuevas’ statement, saying anyone can take any legal remedies available but cautioned against stopping the impeachment proceeding.

But when interviewed by reporters on Wednesday, Enrile could not say how the Supreme Court could intervene in the actions or rulings made by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.

“Kung inaakala nila na meron kaming ginagawa na hindi tama, di magsasampa sila ng kaso at titingnan namin kung pwede kaming kasuhan kung mayron kaming nilababag na batas. Noody is above the law,” said the Senate leader.

Asked again if the impeachment court rulings could be questioned before the high tribunal, Enrile refused to answer the question, saying it will be going into the merits of the case.

But Enrile reiterated the sole power of the Senate to try and decide all impeachment cases filed before the chamber.

“Doon sa bagay na yun, hindi kami pwedneg pigilan ng Korte Suprema Hindi ko alam kung pwede kaming pigilan sa mga ibang bagay,” he pointed out.