Prosecution panel assails defense over bribery accusation

MANILA, Philippines—The prosecution panel said Monday that the defense’s accusation that Malacañang had offered senator-judges a P100-million bribe was meant to demonize them in the ongoing impeachment trial in order to stop the opening the dollar accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr, chief prosecutor, said the allegation was “very irresponsible” because the defense could not even name the source of such information.

“Respondent Corona is trying to demonize the executive and blackmail the Senate to vote in their favor as part of their mind conditioning strategy,” Tupas said in a text message to the Inquirer.

“Respondent Corona has no respect for the constitutional process of impeachment, the Senate impeachment tribunal and the senators,” he stressed.

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares, another prosecutor, said that what Corona’s lawyers did was a declaration of war against senators.

“(It is) an unmistakable sign of panic and desperation, a pathetic attempt at blackmailing the Senate impeachment court,” said Colmenares.

Colmenares noted that since the start of the Corona trial, the defense has been trying to discredit impeachment court and senator judges in their actuations both inside and outside of the Senate plenary.

“This latest attack is blackmail, saying to the senators you vote with us not to open the dollar accounts or we will charge you with accepting bribe,” Colmeares said, adding that the defense lawyers were actually laying the ground for a walkout.

By floating the idea of a P100-million pork barrel offer by Malacañang to individual senators, the defense was hinting that it will not accept a senator’s decision to implement the subpoena opening Corona’s dollar bank accounts because of the bribery.

Akbayan Representative Walden Bello, one of 188 congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint, said madness has descended on the defense team due to desperation.

“They must have gotten mad over there. Surely, the end is near for Corona,” Bello said.

“If they think P100 million would be able to buy our senators, they should have their heads checked. This accusation insults the intelligence; it is outrageous and preposterous,” he added.

Bello said that instead of resorting to diversionary tactics, Corona should just open his dollar accounts because his guilt in hiding the same was “already nauseating to the people.”

Meanwhile, Bantay Gloria Network’s (BGN) Risa Hontiveros dared the defense team to walk out of the impeachment trial. BGN is a multi-sectoral coalition against graft and corruption in the government.

“We challenge them to make a mockery of the trial proceedings– a constitutional and legal process of making their client accountable,” Hontiveros said.

“We dare them to walkout and virtually admit that Corona is indefensible and ultimately, guilty of the charges hurled against him.”