Senate holds caucus to decide on Corona bank accounts

MANILA, Philippines—Senators held a caucus in the Senate on Tuesday to decide on a motion by the camp of Chief Justice Renato Corona to “suppress” the alleged illegally obtained evidence by the prosecution team against him.

The evidence referred to in a 33-page motion filed last week was the documents presented to the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, by officials of the Philippine Savings Bank in relation to accounts allegedly owned by Renato.

Seventeen senators were present in the caucus when it started a little past 12:00 noon on Tuesday.

In attendance were Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, Senate Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Maority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senators Lito Lapid, Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos, Serge Osmeña, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Edgardo Angara, Ramon “Bong”Revilla Jr., Gregorio Honasan, Tefisto Guingona III, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Loren Legarda, Antonio “ Sonny” Trillanes IV, and Joker Arroyo.

Aside from the said motion, the senators were also expected to decide on the fate of n private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre, who was cited for contempt by the Senate for covering his ears while Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was castigating the prosecutors.

Santiago, who moved to cite Aguirre for contempt, was notably absent in the caucus.