SC employee takes witness stand

MANILA, Philippines—An employee of the Supreme Court was the first witness presented by the defense team for Article 2 of the impeachment complaint filed against Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Corona’s lead counsel, former Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas, identified the witness as Araceli Bayuga, the chief judicial staff officer of the Supreme Court’s Cash, Collections and Disbursement Division.

Cuevas said Bayuga’s testimony would dwell on Article 2 of the impeachment complaint pertaining to Corona’s alleged failure to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth.

Bayuga’s appearance in the Senate came even after a Supreme Court’s resolution prohibiting members and employees of the judiciary from testifying before the Senate without the court’s permission.

Before Bayuga, Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco returned to the witness stand to answer questions from Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Santiago was the only member of the impeachment court who questioned Tiangco.