For nth time, defense lawyer says, Corona won’t resign

MANILA, Philippines—Defense lawyer Tranquil Salvador III on Saturday scoffed at fresh suggestions that Chief Justice Renato Corona should resign before his impeachment trial resumes in May.

“The Chief Justice will not resign. And he’s been very consistent with that statement,” said Salvador, who was asked to respond to a prosecution statement  that Corona should quit now before he is “crucified.”  “He’ll see through the process. He has complete faith and trust in the process.’’

The statement, he said, showed the “weakness” of the prosecution’s case against Corona. “If you think your case is strong, you will not ask the person you’re suing to resign. You’d want to hold him liable. You’d want him to go through the process.”

After presenting 16 witnesses before the Senate impeachment court adjourned Friday for the Holy Week, Corona’s lawyers are lining up another batch of witnesses for the magistrate’s defense against the charges  in Articles 2, 3 and 7 of the impeachment complaint at the resumption of the trial  on May 7, Salvador  said.

The defense had indicated it would not call Corona and wife Cristina to the stand lest they be subject to intense grilling and ridicule. Besides, there was no need for their testimonies for now as these could be provided by other witnesses and documents.

This Lent, Salvador said, Filipinos should take stock of the impeachment trial of Corona, and reflect whether they had contributed to the process.

“Let’s take this opportunity to examine ourselves; not only us in the defense, the prosecution, the senator-judges. Where do we stand in this process? Are we contributing to the good of this country?” he said at a press forum as Annabel’s. “Let’s examine ourselves, and see where this process brings the country as a whole.”

Salvador said the defense was also evaluating whether or not Corona should amend his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) in time for the April 30 deadline for the filing of the 2011 SALN, because to do so would be an admission of inaccurate or missing entries.

“Our apprehension is that if we move and try do something in connection with the issues that are subject of the controversy, they will say, ‘That’s an admission’. If there’s no pending case, that’s easy.… That will continue to be studied,” he said.

Article 2 accuses Corona of failing to accurately prepare and publicly disclose his SALN. In the last two weeks of trial, it was shown that Corona declared the assessed or market value—not the acquisition cost—of some of his assets.

On the hearing last Thursday, lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas said he would confer with Corona on whether he would amend his SALN by April 30.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan said he would have to wait for the other defense testimonies or evidence to determine whether there was a need for Corona and his wife to take the stand.

“Let’s wait for the rest of their witnesses and the evidence to be presented by the defense before we conclude if their testimonies are necessary,” he said in a text message.