Chief Justice Renato Corona was put on a wheelchair after abruptly walking out of the session hall following his testimony in his own trial. JOSEPH VIDAL-PRIB
MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona returned to the session hall of the Senate minutes after leaving Tuesday the chamber without being properly discharged.
Corona earlier was taken to the Senate clinic on a wheel chair after complaining of a drop in blood sugar
“I don’t think he feels well…he’s been talking for more than three hours… he didn’t have lunch,” lawyer Jose Roy, a member of the Corona defense team told reporters in an ambush interview.
Corona, a diabetic, immediately left after finishing his statement before the impeachment tribunal without waiting to be properly discharged from the witness stand.
“I want to be excused,” Corona said before walking out of the session hall.
The “walkout” prompted Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to order a lockdown of the Senate.
Corona’s lead counsel, former Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas, apologized for Corona’s action.
“I apologize to the seeming disrespect to this honorable court. There’s no intention whatsoever…” said Cuevas.
According to Roy, Corona drank three cans of a cola drink to re-establish his normal blood sugar level.
Defense lawyer Ramon Esguerra also confirmed that Corona was staying in the holding.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares said that Corona’s actions did not disprove their allegations and only indicated that he really was “morally unfit to hold office.”