Senate junks Corona plea to ‘suppress’ bank documents

MANILA, Philippines—The Senate sitting as an impeachment court junked on Tuesday a motion by Chief Justice Renato Corona’s camp to “suppress” the alleged illegally-obtained evidence by the prosecution team against him.

The decision was reached in a caucus held by senators in the Senate, Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile told a press conference after the caucus.

“It will deny the motion to suppress (the alleged illegally obtained evidence) and accept the evidence for consideration of the court in connection with Articles 2,” Enrile said.

Article 2 of the impeachment complaint pertains to Corona’s alleged failure to disclose to the public his statement of assets and liabilities.

“We’re going to issue a lengthy formal decision and ruling on this…,” Enrile added.

In the same caucus, Enrile said the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, agreed to just admonish private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre, instead of imposing a penalty against him.

Aguirre was cited for contempt by the Senate for covering his ears while Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was castigating the prosecutors last week.

“In view of circumstances, unusual circumstances…that surrounded the incident, the impeachment court although there’s evidence of an act considered as contemptuous, the  court will not impose a penalty with respect to laws on freedom but simply admonish him (Aguirre) to be more careful…,” Enrile said.