Corona may be slapped with contempt – prosecution

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 – Chief Justice Renato Corona could face being cited for contempt by the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, for “insulting” the chamber by leaving the session hall Tuesday without permission.

“I’m sure our fellow lawyers noticed, if we did that scenario in court, we would immediately be cited for direct contempt,” prosecution spokesman Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III said Wednesday.

Tañada said one of the elements of contempt can easily be established with Corona’s behavior last Tuesday.

“The Chief Justice knows the process being followed in a court room, the witness should wait for the Presiding Officer’s permission before leaving the session hall,” he said.

Corona stood up and left the witness stand after reading his lengthy opening statement during Tuesday’s proceedings because he was said to be feeling dizzy and nauseous.

Corona was brought to The Medical City Hospital Tuesday night after the day’s proceedings and was later moved to the Intensive Care Unit where he was being monitored by doctors.

When asked if the prosecution would move to cite Corona in contempt, Tañada said:

“It’s up to the impeachment judges to consider this if ever, but I think they will give him a little leeway. The defense counsel was already given a tongue-lashing Tuesday by the senators.”

“It would be up to the senator-judges to take the cudgels for themselves because they were the ones who were ‘insulted’ by such an act by the Chief Justice,” Tañada said.