Walkout-marred trial adjourned

Justice Renato Corona sits on a wheelchair after walking out of the session hall following his testimony in his own trial. PHOTO BY ROMY BUGANTE/PRIB/SENATE POOL

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate acting as an impeachment court gave Chief Justice Renato Corona until tomorrow, Wednesday, to return to the witness stand and continue his testimony.

Corona’s testimony in the Senate was disrupted for more than an hour when the Chief Justice walked out of the chamber after his opening statement without getting the permission of senators, who sit as judges in the trial.

When the session resumed, the wheelchair-bound Corona showed up but his lead counsel, former Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas, informed the chamber that his client was suffering from hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.

But this did not stop Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile from giving Cuevas a dressing down for Corona’s action.

“You place the Chief Justice on the witness stand, we allowed him to narrate his defense. If he does not want to be cross-examined , you know the consequences of that,” Enrile said.

He warned: “We will order the striking out of all his statement from the record and we will decide the case based on the evidence based on record. So it’s your plate.”

In response, Cuevas said: “I wanted to assure the court that there’s no such plan, your honor.”

“I didn’t realize that he was already suffering from pain, chest and difficulty in breathing, dizziness . In fact, a couple of minutes before these things actually took place he was already taking medicines,” he said.

But Enrile argued: “He is the Chief Justice. He knows the decorum of the court. He could very well have said: ‘I’m not feeling well.’”

Cuevas apologized and asked for understanding from the Senate leader.

Enrile went on, saying he will not “allow any abuse of authority against this court for as longs as I’m the presiding officer.”

“If you’re not going to allow your client or if he will not allow himself to be cross-examined, we will decide this case on the basis of the evidence on record.”

Enrile then asked Cuevas what he and his client wanted.

Cuevas said his client will continue his testimony in some other time because Corona at the moment was not “physically able” and mentally suited” to undergo direct or cross examinations.

But Enrile said the Senate would only give Corona until on Wednesday to continue his statement.

“We will give him, to be considerate to him, will give him until tomorrow to return. Then if he will not return for cross examination, we will consider this case submitted for resolution,” he said.

The impeachment trial will resume at 2:00 in the afternoon on Wednesday.

No senator objected to Enrile’s decision and Cuevas promised to abide by it.