Corona’s welcome but presence not necessary

THE SENATOR-JUDGES First row from left: Panfilo Lacson, Antonio Trillanes IV, Franklin Drilon, Bong Revilla Jr., Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Tito Sotto, Sergio Osmeña III, Jinggoy Estrada, Edgardo Angara, Juan Ponce Enrile, Ralph Recto, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Joker Arroyo, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Manuel Villar Jr., Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan II and Pia Cayetano, Teofisto Guingona III, Aquilino Pimentel III, Lito Lapid and Francis Pangilinan. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: RAFFY LERMA/JERITO DELA CRUZ

Most likely, his presence would be acknowledged but Chief Justice Renato Corona will not be called to the witness stand if he shows up in the Senate on Monday to attend the opening session of his impeachment trial.

“Even a court hearing does not require an accused to appear. A lawyer may appear for him,” Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto said in an interview on Sunday.

“There are times you need to be there and times you need not be. The matter is up to him. That’s his choice,” Sotto said.

Told that Corona’s chief lawyer, Serafin Cuevas, had said his client would attend Monday’s session, Sotto said: “He would not be asked to the witness stand.”

Security will be tight when the session begins at 2 p.m. with the singing of the national anthem, the recitation of a prayer and an opening statement by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Then the 11 members of the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel and their team of private lawyers will make a formal entry, followed by the defense panel and a powerhouse group of about 30 private lawyers who have volunteered to defend Corona.

“The articles of impeachment will be formally [read] to mark the official start of trial,” said Renato Bantug, the Senate executive director for legislation.

“Perhaps the Senate President may decide to address the court and make a statement,” Bantug said.

The impeachment court’s spokesperson, Valentina Cruz, said the senator-judges had not set a time for the adjournment of each session.

At the impeachment trial of then President Joseph Estrada in 2000, sessions stretched sometimes up to 10 p.m.

March 23 deadline

Sotto said a March 23 deadline was being eyed for the completion of Corona’s trial on charges of betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption and culpable violation of the Constitution.

This is because Congress plans to adjourn for the Holy Week in late March and resume session on May 7.

“Once the oral arguments on both sides are done, we will vote on the articles one by one. If he (Corona) is found guilty on one article, he will be removed even if he is found to be not guilty on the seven other articles. But we would need 16 votes to convict,” Sotto said.

Sotto said he did not see the entire process stretching over a year.

Defense motions

Senators earlier agreed to hold its regular sessions at 9 a.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays. The impeachment trial is to be held from Monday to Thursday.

“We will try our best to finish our legislative business before 11:30 a.m. That is the time set for the caucus to discuss items on the agenda of the impeachment court.  We will discuss the motions one by one,” Sotto said.

Corona’s lawyers have asked for a preliminary hearing to establish whether the impeachment complaint was indeed verified by the 188 lawmakers who signed it.

Sotto said the closed-door caucus also planned to discuss a defense motion to cite the prosecutors in contempt for releasing to the media details of Corona’s supposed posh penthouse at The Bellagio condominium in Taguig City.

A third defense motion wants Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and other House officials subpoenaed in connection with the speed with which the House approved the articles of impeachment.

Avoiding delays

The prosecution has filed its own motion asking the Senate to subpoena Corona, his wife Cristina, daughter Carla Corona-Castillo, son-in-law Constantino Castillo III, son Francis Corona and daughter-in-law Charina Corona.

The prosecutors want the Coronas to submit “transfer certificates of title  and condominium certificates of title” in connection with properties they have acquired—part of the prosecution strategy to prove  Corona failed to declare many properties in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

According to Sotto, there is a need to resolve the issues before the trial begins to avoid delays.

He did not dismiss the possibility that prosecution and defense lawyers would insist on giving statements at the start of the trial. “If they want to say something, we will listen to them,” he said.

Security measures

Manuel Parlade, a director at the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms, said his men would be posted at the session hall, at the working areas for prosecution and defense, media working areas, the parking grounds and areas surrounding the Senate.

Riot policemen will be stationed at the nearby Manila Film Center. K-9 dogs will be at the entrance to the Senate to check for explosives.

“CCTV cameras will be installed in [places like] the police outposts near the Senate (and) the parking lots,” he said.

Some 175 tickets will be issued daily to private individuals who wish to watch the session.  They must line up at the police outpost near the Senate gate earlier than the 11 a.m. distribution time as tickets will be given on a first come, first served basis.

Officials said a “no sticker, no entry” policy would be observed in the parking grounds and the driveway leading to the Senate building.