Defense counsel mocks Aquino for ‘bald prediction’

What exactly is a bald prediction?

Apparently taking a swipe at the balding President Benigno Aquino III, a lawyer of Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday dismissed as a “bald prediction” Malacañang’s claim that there was “no way” Corona would be cleared in the Senate impeachment court.

Speaking with reporters before the resumption of Corona’s trial, Jose Roy III belittled the Palace statement that the House prosecutors were able to present enough evidence to secure a conviction for the Chief Justice.

“We have heard so many fairy tales. Now we’re hearing about … bald predictions. Bold predictions, I’m sorry,” he said.

Told to elaborate, Roy replied he just “misspoke.”

“It’s a slip of the tongue. I had lengua for lunch,” Roy said, eliciting laughter from members of the media.

He said Palace officials who were making their own predictions about how Corona’s impeachment trial would end “probably have a crystal ball.”

“I have yet to see infallibility in predictions, but I have heard a lot of false bravado,” Roy said.

In his previous media interviews, Mr. Aquino said he was certain the Senate would eventually hand down a guilty verdict on the Chief Justice.

In an interview over state-owned dzRB radio on Sunday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President was expecting Corona’s guilty verdict “given the weight of the evidence that has been presented” before the Senate.

“It will eventually lead to a conviction,” Valte said.

But Roy said the decision of the House prosecutors to drop five of the eight articles of impeachment showed the quality of the evidence they have against the Chief Justice.

“It’s quite simple. If you have a strong case, what fool of a lawyer would withdraw that case? If the case is solid (which would) surely result in a conviction or ouster … why would you withdraw the case? Why would you drop the articles?” the lawyer said.

“Are we fools? Do they think we don’t know how it works? No lawyer worth his salt will withdraw a strong case. It’s that simple.”

Asked if the Palace statement was intended to pressure the senators, Roy said: “I don’t want to keep repeating myself about the efforts of Malacañang to manipulate or influence the senators.”