Defense denies hiding behind ‘technicalities’
MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona’s lawyers belied accusations by the prosecution that they have been using “technicalities” to defend their client.
In a press conference held after the Senate’s impeachment proceedings, lawyer Rico Paolo Quicho, defense spokesperson, said that they were saddened by the accusation.
“Nakakalungkot na lagi kami ang pinupulaan dito ang depensa sa mga hindi nagagawa ng prosecution. They should not be blaming us for whatever dilemma or situation they are in now. If there is someone to blame, they should blame themselves,” Quicho said.
He said that had the prosecution carefully drafted the verified complaint, if they studied it well and if there was any solid basis on the allegations before the Articles of Impeachment were written, then they wouldn’t be having this problem.
He said that the defense team was only doing what they were expected to do which was to defend the accused.
“Malinaw na hindi ito teknikality. Ito ay pagtugon sa karapatan ng nasasakdal. Ito po ay pagtugon sa kung ano ho ba ang naayon sa batas. Ito po ay pagtuggon at pagkilala na kahit sino man, kahit ikaw ay kongresista, ikaw ay maging mayaman na tao, hindi ka basta-basta pwede magbato ng alegasyon kung ikaw ay walang pruweba,” Quicho said.
During Tuesday’s trial, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile reprimanded the prosecution for insisting on admitting witnesses and evidence which did not support Article 3 of the Articles of Impeachment.
Enrile disallowed Enrique Javier, Philippine Airlines vice-president for sales, to testify for the prosecution, saying that his testimony and evidence would not prove any of the charges in Article 3.
Enrile added that the prosecution team was, in fact, expanding the scope of Article 3.
But the prosecution countered that Javier would have testified on the travel perks and privileges enjoyed by the Coronas which allegedly were his “motives” for flip-flopping on his decision on the case of PAL against its workers’ union.
Enrile however remained firm and said that the prosecution team would need to amend their articles of impeachment if they wanted Javier to testify.
Article 3 reads: Respondent committed culpable violations of the constitution and betrayed the public trust by failing to meet and observe the stringent standards under art. Viii, section 7 (3) of the constitution that provides that “[a] member of the judiciary must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence” in allowing the supreme court to act on mere letters filed by a counsel which caused the issuance of flip-flopping decisions in final and executory cases; in creating an excessive entanglement with Mrs. Arroyo through her appointment of his wife to office; and in discussing with litigants regarding cases pending before the supreme court.
