Chief prosecutor Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Chief prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. on Wednesday received an earful from Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who was exasperated by the young congressman’s insistence that the impeachment court scrutinize bank records pertaining to Chief Justice Renato Corona’s dollar accounts.
Earlier, on Monday, senator-judges voted 13-10 to uphold a temporary restraining order (TRO) of the Supreme Court disallowing the examination by the impeachment court of records related to Corona’s dollar accounts with Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank).
“I think this is elementary to any lawyer who has been to a court room….The (Senate) majority respects the TRO of the Supreme Court with respect to foreign currency deposits,” Enrile said.
“I do not have to educate lawyers here. I feel ashamed to educate lawyers here,” he added.
Tupas earlier reminded Enrile that as presiding officer, it was he who ordered PSBank Katipunan branch manager Annabelle Tiongson to bring Corona’s bank documents.
“But it turned out that the account involved covered foreign currency deposits and there is a TRO that the majority opted to recognize,” the Senate President shot back.—Cathy C. Yamsuan