Supreme Court can’t stop Corona impeachment trial, says Senator Enrile

MANILA, Philippines—Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile doubts if the Supreme Court can stop the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona in the Senate.

“I don’t think so,” Enrile told reporters when sought to comment about several petitions filed before the high tribunal seeking to stop the Corona impeachment.

The Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order against the impeachment trial, he said, would tantamount to cancellation of the mandate of the Senate to try an impeachable officer like Corona.

“The one ordered to try and decide an impeachment case is the Senate and so I don’t think the Supreme Court can reinterpret the Constitution,” Enrile said.

“It’s so clear, the Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide. The sole power to try and decide. What’s the meaning of that? No one else. It excludes everybody.”

Enrile said the high tribunal has the power to review the basis of the impeachment “but once it reaches the Senate, they can’t say that there’s abuse or excess of jurisdiction, or abuse of discretion because we have not proceeded yet.”

“When the case is transferred to the Senate, the mandate is that trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed,” he pointed out.

If the question was directed at the members of the House of Representatives, who initiated the impeachment complaint against Corona, then Enrile said the case should have been filed in court before the complaint was transmitted to the Senate.

“Once it’s here, we have acquired jurisdiction,” the Senate leader said.