Senate won’t compel PCIJ exec, staff to testify in Corona trial

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, will not compel officials and staff members of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) to appear and testify unless they volunteer.

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile . JUNNY ROY / SENATE POOL

“I will not act on it,” Senate president and presiding officer Juan Ponce-Enrile said on Wednesday when asked if the Senate would grant the request of the defense team to subpoena Malou Mangahas, executive director of PCIJ and some staff members.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano gusto nila, bakit nila sina-subpoena. Ano ba ang alam ng PCIJ ?

Ano ang kinalalaman dun sa impeachment [I don’t know what they want, why they want to subpoena them. What does that have to do with the impeachment?]” asked Enrile.

The Senate leader was not convinced by the explanation that the statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) of other government officials, including him, mentioned in the PCIJ articles would be used to compare them with that of Chief Justice Renatoi Corona.

“But those people are not under impeachment. If I have violated the law or the Constitution then I’m open to be charged. But my case has nothing to do with the case pending in the Senate,” Enrile said.

“So what if we have the same thing? Then that means we all violated the Constitution? Now, let the justice department file cases against all of us, the then we have to defend ourselves,” he said.

If Mangahas wants to voluntarily face the impeachment case, however, Enrile said the Senate would welcome her.

“Kung gusto ni Malou na pumunta dito, she’s welcome,” he added.