The bombshell testimony that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales dropped at the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday was proof of the government’s “orchestrated and systematic attacks,” defense lawyers said.
Rico Paolo Quicho said it was “unusual” for the Office of the Ombudsman to seek the assistance of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in its investigation of alleged graft involving public officials.
“Is it ordinary for the Ombudsman to coordinate with the AMLC directly? This does not happen ordinarily,” Quicho said in a news briefing.
“If they can do that to the Chief Justice, then they should also do that to all the cases which had been pending in the Ombudsman for years. This only showed that their attacks against the Chief Justice are really orchestrated and systematic,” he said.
The lawyer also lamented why Morales did not inform Corona that the antigraft body was already in possession of the AMLC documents on the Chief Justice’s purported dollar deposits, saying Corona should have been fully informed of the supposed evidence against him.
“What would be the basis of the Chief Justice in answering the allegations against him if they will not inform him of the evidence?” Quicho said.
“The Ombudsman was not only a hostile witness. She was also combative. We’re not ready for that.”
Tranquil Salvador III said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile should have restrained Morales from engaging chief defense counsel Serafin Cuevas in debates.
“There were questions which should have been allowed,” Salvador said.
“In regular courts, if a witness appears to be belligerent or combative, the judge should have reminded that witness (to behave) and allow the counsel to ask questions,” he added.
In particular, Salvador said Enrile should not have prohibited Cuevas from fielding questions over how Morales was able to get hold of the AMLC documents.
Towards the end of the day’s proceedings, Cuevas reacted sharply to what appeared to him to be heckling by private prosecutor Mario Bautista.
“May we know from the defense if the Chief Justice is going to testify tomorrow? Is he going to testify tomorrow?” Bautista asked Cuevas even after the Senate had announced that Morales would continue her testimony today.
“Why ask that? It’s like we don’t have an alternative? You are dealing with a retired justice of the Supreme Court. Walang bastusan (show a little respect),” retorted Cuevas.
“I think the prosecution should not ask the defense when they will present their witnesses,” Enrile said.
“I’m sorry,” Bautista said.