Prosecution waits for Senate’s decision on Corona trial

WAITING. Good things come to those who wait. Prosecution spokesman and Quezon 4th District Representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada says his team leaves it to the Senate to decide on Chief Justice Corona’s trial. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The House prosecution team is leaving the decision to the Senate on the recent developments on Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial.

Lead prosecutor Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. told INQUIRER.net that they would wait for the impeachment court to decide on the issue, given that Corona was confined at the Medical City.

He said they did not expect the chief magistrate to show up in court after hearing news that he was later moved to the intensive care unit.

Tupas also said that they were also awaiting for the defense’s move and whether they would ask that the court postpone the trial.

House deputy speaker Lorenzo Tanada III, a spokesman for the team, agreed that it was up to the impeachment tribunal to decide what was next for the trial.

He said that they too were praying for Corona’s fast recovery.

Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño however said that since Corona cannot make it to the trial on Wednesday, the case should be considered submitted for resolution as Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said on Tuesday.

Casiño suggested government physicians should tasked to look into the Chief Justice’s condition “or this can be likened to (former President now Pampanga Representative) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s sickness that only manifests when charges are being brought against her.”

Early Wednesday, the Senate has sent its own doctor, Mariano Blanca, to check on the actual condition of the Chief Justice, who has to remain at the ICU for monitoring for the next 48 hours.

Originally posted at 09:43 am | Wednesday, May 23,  2012