Senators back defense right to raise objections at Corona trial

MANILA, Philippines—Objections are par for the course, and the defense should be given enough leeway to raise them lest the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona be seen as being railroaded, senators said Saturday.

Responding to a colleague’s concern that the trial had been slowed down by the defense’s numerous objections, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said neither camp should be stopped from raising objections at Corona’s trial.

“How can you stop them if they think there’s something objectionable? Objections can’t just be prevented, otherwise that’s no longer a trial. When the defense’s turn to present evidence comes, won’t the other side pose objections?” Sotto said in a phone interview.

“I distinctly remember that during the Erap impeachment trial, all that defense lawyer Estelito Mendoza did was to object to everything, and we did not hear any complaint from Joker Arroyo,” he added.

Arroyo and other House prosecutors faced off with Mendoza and other defense lawyers in the aborted impeachment trial of then President Joseph “Erap” Estrada on charges of corruption, incompetence and inefficiency from late 2000 to early 2001.

Noting that so far it has been the show of the prosecution, Senator Ralph Recto said: “If I were to bend a little backward, I would bend in favor of the defense. The trial has started with the prosecution, and we should allow the defense some leeway to defend themselves so nobody can say it has been railroaded or stacked up against them.”

It all boils down to “due process,” he added.

After four days of trial, Senator Panfilo Lacson lamented that the proceedings had been “consistently bogged down by so many objections,” and vowed to raise this issue when the trial resume on Tuesday.

He singled out Serafin Cuevas’ numerous manifestations blocking the prosecution’s presentation of evidence, including Corona’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth and transfer certificates of titles and deeds of absolute sale involving his and his family’s properties.

Sotto said the senators should trust Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to handle objections, either from the defense or the prosecution, in the course of the trial.

“That’s why the presiding officer is there to rule whether an objection should be sustained or overruled,’’ he said.  “He’s doing an awesome job. Let it go. I don’t see any reason to complain about how the impeachment is being conducted. We’re trying our best to run a very tight ship.’’

Sotto said, however, that Lacson’s concern would be tackled at the coming week’s caucus if he would bring it up.

Recto said he and his colleagues should not be “technical about procedures” because in the end what’s important is that the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, has allowed due process to work.

“People are looking at us. Regardless of the outcome, the process and the Senate judgment should be looked upon to be fair and just. My message to the public is, `Be patient.’ Things will get faster along the way. Let’s not jump into conclusions,” he said.

Sotto also clarified that the House prosecutors have simply marked not offered any evidence.