Defense accuses prosecution of violating impeachment truce

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—Lawyers of Chief Justice Renato Corona accused the prosecution of violating the impeachment truce with the release of a series of surveys on Corona’s impeachment trial.

The latest Social Weather Station survey said that six out of 10 Filipinos believe Corona has hidden wealth based on the reported assets not reflected in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

“The timing of the release of this report is highly unfortunate. We are in a six-week Senate impeachment recess and the camp of the Chief Justice has displayed sincerity for an impeachment ceasefire,” lawyer Tranquil Salvador III lamented.

“We decry this latest trial by publicity, part of the media offensive against the Chief Justice and which has been in full force since March 22. Remember the malicious media bombshell about the alleged ownership of properties in the U.S. (which the Chief Justice does not own) during the impeachment break? Where is fairness there?”

Salvador said “their sole purpose is to condition the mind of the public during the break and to give them something to chew on and discuss in the interim.”

Malacañang has a self-imposed gag rule on the impeachment trial while Aurora Representative Juan “Sonny” Angara Jr. made the impeachment truce during the Lenten break.