Corona lawyer faces reprimand over ‘P100-M’ bribe to senators

MANILA, Philippines — Defense lawyer Jose Roy will be reprimanded by the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, for alleging that senator-judges have been offered P100 million worth of projects by Malacanang.

Jose Roy III

“Reprimand,” said Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile when asked about the penalty that the Senate would impose on Roy, who was cited for contempt Monday by the impeachment court.

Asked why the penalty was reprimand, and not admonition, which was imposed on private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre, Enrile said, “Mas mabigat yung sinabi nya e parang nagpaparatang na kami ay tumatanggap ng suhol.”

Aguirre was also cited for contempt by the court for covering his ears while Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was berating the prosecution team.

Roy, on the other hand, claimed in a press conference in February that the P100 million bribe offer to senator-judges was supposedly meant to pressure them to defy the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order on the opening of bank accounts allegedly in the name of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

But the senator-judges voted 13-10 to comply with the Supreme Court’s order.

Enrile said the penalty against Roy would only be read on record and that there was no need to put it in writing.

“Sasabihin lang sa record [We will just put on record], you’re reprimanded,” Enrile said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson agreed to a higher penalty than admonition for the defense lawyer, pointing out the gravity of his allegation.

Lacson explained that admonition was a simple reminder while a reprimand was a strong warning.