Senate to convene as impeachment court

MANILA, Philippines–Senators agreed in a caucus held on Tuesday to convene the Senate as an impeachment court to try Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The senators, who will sit as judges during the impeachment trial, also designated Tina Cruz, the Senate legal counsel, as the spokesperson.

In a press conference, Cruz said Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III will make a motion on the floor on Wednesday to convert the chamber into an impeachment court.

After the motion, the Senate will adjourn as a legislative body and will immediately convene as an impeachment court. The senators will also take their oath.

Once the impeachment court is constituted, it would now notify Corona about the impeachment case filed against him.

Corona has 10 days to file his answer upon receipt of the notice while the prosecutors will be given five days to reply.

Cruz said the senators also agreed to hold morning sessions when the legislative work resumes on January 16, 2012, and hold the impeachment trial in the afternoon.

The impeachment proceedings will be held from Monday to Thursday only because submission of motions will be done every Friday.