Corona’s walkout was planned, says Enrile

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—Now it can be told.

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, who presided over the impeachment trial of now-former Chief Justice Renato Corona, believed that Corona’s controversial walkout when he first testified on May 22 was “contrived.”

“I think in practical terms, that was contrived,” Enrile said when asked over a television interview early Wednesday if he thought the walkout was scripted.

After giving his opening statement, Corona excused himself from the witness stand without getting the permission of the body or even Enrile.

When Corona returned to the Senate impeachment court, his lead counsel Serafin Cuevas informed the Senate he was suffering from hypoglycemia (low-blood sugar).

But Enrile noted that when Corona excused himself, he was still reading his last line from the prepared statement he was holding at that time.

“Even the (Corona) family (members), as if on cue, they also stood up and then their cars were lined up, ready to move,” Enrile said.