Lawyer asks Senate to cite House panel in contempt

Chief Justice Renato Corona

A member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has asked the Senate impeachment court to cite House prosecutors in contempt for disclosing “discovered evidence” even before Chief Justice Renato Corona’s trial.

Lawyer Fernando Perito filed an urgent motion late Monday afternoon accusing Representatives Niel Tupas, Romero Quimbo, Raul Daza and Ben Evardone of “conspiring with impunity in their relentless thirst for media exposures to demonize their prey, the Chief Justice.”

Perito’s charges stem from the prosecutors’ announcement in a news conference last week that Corona bought a pricey penthouse condo at The Bellagio Towers in Taguig City for P14 million and that he had failed to disclose this purchase in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

The lawyer said he was “appalled by the irresponsible behavior of the members and the lead counsel of the prosecution in the impeachment case in divulging publicly under the glaring lights of cameras their alleged ‘discovered evidence’ to hold the accused (Corona) pinned and liable on their alleged charges.”

Violation

Perito also chided the House team led by Tupas for having “the temerity to call a press conference and display their so-called documentary evidence to poison the minds of the anticipating public.”

He said this move was a violation of Rule 18 of the impeachment rules adopted by the Senate to govern the proceedings beginning next week.

“The imprudence and tactlessness of Tupas and his group in announcing, displaying and disseminating without regard and respect to the Upper Chamber of Congress violates Rule XVIII of the Rules and Procedure on Impeachment Trial which provides that the Presiding Officer and the members shall refrain from making comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial. It adds that the same apply to the prosecutors and their respective counsel and witnesses,” Perito said.

Senators have warned the House prosecutors against going against the gag rule covering the impeachment trial.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Assistant Majority Leader Gregorio Honasan were in the Senate building Monday to inspect arrangements for the trial in the session hall.

In separate interviews, Sotto and Honasan said the Perito motion would be discussed during a caucus before the first afternoon session of the impeachment court next Monday.

‘Nonentity’

But Sotto indicated that because Perito was not a participant in the impeachment trial, there was a possibility that his motion would be ignored.

“He is a nonentity as far as the impeachment court is concerned.  Although the Senate President said we would probably ask Representative Tupas to explain his side,” Sotto said in a phone interview.

Asked for comment, Enrile said he would decide on Perito’s motion, but did not elaborate.

Honasan said the motion filed by Corona’s defense lawyers calling for a preliminary hearing to establish whether the eight articles of impeachment filed against the Chief Justice had been properly verified would also be discussed during the caucus.