Enrile expects Corona trial to end in May

MANILA, Philippines—Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile expects the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona to end sometime in May.

Enrile said in an interview that he gave the defense one month to present its case since he knew “more or less how much time they need to present their evidence. I was giving them one month, that’s long already for 25 witnesses.”

He said that the prosecution panel’s rebuttal would also not take much time. “Madali lang ang rebuttal (The rebuttal is easy), you don’t present the entire case again.”

The senator-judges, he said, would decide immediately through a huddle afterwards and would not need a break before they announce their decision.

“My God we’ve been hearing the case, we know what it’s all about… we (even) have a record of proceedings. If you are attentive, at this point you should know what’s going on.”

Just like the members of the prosecution and the defense panels, Enrile said that he would use the time during the Lenten break to rest although he would not be leaving the country.