After 3 weeks, prosecution yet to present strong evidence vs Corona

MANILA, Philippines—The impeachment trial against Chief Justice Renato Corona ended its third week Thursday but the prosecution panel has yet to present strong evidence, defense lawyer Rico Paolo Quicho said.

“Now we’re seeing that the prosecution’s allegations have no basis. They seem to be moving backwards because they are finding it hard to prove their accusations on the Chief Justice,” Quicho said.
He and spokesperson lawyer Tranquil Salvador III also reiterated their statement about discussing the merits of the case outside the court proceedings.

Salvador raised Senator-judge Gringo Honasan’s observation that “parang nauuna ang paglilitis sa labas kaysa sa loob po ng impeachment tribunal (it seems the trial outside the courtroom is moving faster than the done inside the impeachment tribunal).”

Quicho said the defense was also bothered by the denials being made by the prosecution on who released the list of Corona’s alleged 45 properties from the Land Registration Authority.

“Nakababahala sa pagkat kung tahasan kang di magsabi ng totoo–na hindi sa iyo nanggaling ang isang bagay–e ano na lang ang repleksyon o halimbawa na ipapakita sa taong bayan?” asked Quicho, pertaining to lead prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr.’s, who vehemently denied during Thursday’s proceedings that they released the list of Corona’s properties to the media ahead of the trial.

He said that spokespersons and lawyers should all abide by the rules of the impeachment court because the release of information being presented in a trial could affect the defendant.

“Nais naming iparating na ang pangalan ng tao kapag iyong niyurak ay kahit anong pagso-sorry… kahit anong gawin naming di na namin maibabalik yan. Kaya dapat maging responsible naman tayong lahat,” Quicho said.