Aquino: It’s difficult to subpoena co-equal officials

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino said Tuesday that it was difficult for a government body to summon members of a co-equal body such as the Supreme Court but that he hoped the Senate could subpoena lower-level functionaries of the court to testify at the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona,.

“There has been the tradition and the practice that a subpoena is an indication that you have power over somebody,” Aquino told reporters. “And when you are co-equals, it’s indeed difficult to summon someone who is your co-equal.”

The President was responding to a question on whether the Senate was justified in rejecting a prosecution motion to subpoena Supreme Court Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, who had detailed in a dissenting opinion what happened as the Supreme Court deliberated a temporary restraining order against the travel restrictions imposed on former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“If we can achieve with others who aren’t on a co-equal basis, like the employees, I hope that would be allowed,” Aquino said.

The Senate impeachment court on Monday decided against issuing a subpoena for Sereno to appear and testify at Corona’s impeachment trial.

The prosecutors also wanted some court employees to testify.