Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said Monday that it would be best if Chief Justice Renato Corona testify before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, “to answer everything.”
“In my opinion, it would be better if Chief Justice Renato Corona appears before the impeachment court, to answer everything,” Estrada said when asked about the defense’s plan to submit Corona’s corrected Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for the year 2011.
“Well if he doesnt appear, we will have to base on what the witnesses of the defense panel presented,” Estrada said.
“That will be to his disadvantage of course,” he added. “Because we can’t ask questions [to him].”
He maintained that the senate would render a decision even if Corona does not testify by the time the trial ends.
“We will have to render a decision. We will have to hand down the verdict even if he does not appear,” Estrada said.
The defense panel said that they were still studying whether to call Corona to the witness stand. They believe the prosecution has not been able to sufficiently prove Corona committed an impeachable offense.