Lapid speaks up at impeachment trial

Senator Lito Lapid

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Lito Lapid stood up for the first time to ask questions in the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“O, tumatawa na naman kayo dyan [You’re laughing again],” said Lapid, who sits as one of the judges in the trial, before he fired his first question.

Lapid then proceeded to ask the difference between a cash advance and a loan in relation to the P11 million cash advance that Corona allegedly took from the corporation owned by his wife’s family.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is presiding over the trial, directed the witness, an official of the Securities and Exchange Commission to answer the senator’s query.

But Lapid said, “Wala pong kinalaman ang testigo [The witness has nothing to do with it].”

“Who was being asked to answer ?” Enrile asked.

“Prosecution po,” said Lapid.