Bayan doubts Aquino’s seriousness to convict Corona

MANILA, Philippines—The leftwing Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) expressed doubts President Benigno Aquino III was serious in pursuing the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona after the prosecution abruptly ended the presentation of evidence.

This, Bayan noted, despite the fact the Aquino-backed prosecution had a  pending invitation for Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to testify.
Sereno, in a letter to Article VII lead prosecutor Representative Neri Colmenares dated February 29, 2012,  said, “I understand, however that the termination of the presentation of evidence by the Prosecution Panel yesterday and reiterated today before the Impeachment Court has superseded your invitation.”

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said Sereno’s testimony was prevented not by the Supreme Court’s prohibition against the testimony of Justices, Judges and Court employees but by the move of House lead prosecutor and Aquino ally Representative Niel Tupas to rest their case.

“Notice in Sereno’s reply to Neri Colmenares, she did not invoke the Supreme Court’s February 14 resolution. Instead, she mentions the prosecution’s move to terminate the presentation of evidence as reason why she won’t testify,” Reyes said.

“Clearly, Sereno was preempted by Tupas when he shut the door on Sereno’s testimony. Tupas bungled what could have been a chance to expose Corona’s partiality towards Mrs. Arroyo,” he said.

“It raises the question were  Aquino’s allies in the prosecution really serious in pursuing the [Arroyo]-related articles of impeachment? Why cut the presentation of witnesses like Sereno so abruptly?” Reyes said.

The letter of invitation by the House Prosecution panel was sent to Sereno a day before Tupas manifested before the Senate Impeachment Court that they were dropping five articles of impeachment and would rest its case.