Corona seeks disqualification of Drilon as senator-judge

MANILA, Philippines—Chief Justice Renato Corona formally sought Thursday the disqualification of Senator Franklin Drilon in the ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate.

Corona’s request was contained in a 15-page “motion to inhibit” filed by his lawyers before the Office of the Senate Secretary.

“It is respectfully prayed that this motion to inhibit be calendared for hearing and after submission thereof, that the impeachment court render judgment and order the recusal, inhibition or disqualification of senator-judge Franklin Drilon,” it said.

In pointed out how Drilon “displayed his partiality” by directly causing the introduction of evidence—the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) from Supreme Court Clerk of Court Enriqueta Esguerra-Vidal during the January 17 hearing.

During the hearing, the prosecutors failed to convince Vidal to present the copy of Corona’s SALN to the Senate, saying she has yet to get the approval of the high tribunal.

But when Drilon stood up and asked her questions, the Clerk of Court gave in and turned over to the Senate the documents.

“At the time that the defense waived cross-examination, there was nothing more to be done but to excuse the witness. It appears, however, that the prosecution found an ally in senator-judge Drilon, who proceeded to cross-examine and badger Atty. Vidal in the guise of clarificatory questions,” said the motion.

Many of the questions propounded to Vidal, it said, “bordered on the power of the impeachment court to issue a subpoena and command compliance therewith.”

On January 19, Drilon supposedly displayed again his partiality “by directly causing the introduction of evidence from a document intended to cast doubts on the role of Chief Justice about the acquisition of property by his daughter.”

“It is beyond cavil that this turn of events has put in question the integrity of the proceedings and members of the impeachment court,” said the motion.

“Every measure must be taken to guard against the erosion of public confidence in the impeachment trial of CJ Corona; lest the proceedings must be rendered legally vulnerable,” it added.