Vidal: Senators should be just; IBP wants Corona to appear or resign

SENATORS were advised to be “just and partial” in ruling in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona .

“(Be) just and impartial. Otherwise, how can you have a good court without it?” saidthe 81-year-old Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

“Let them go on (with the impeachment) so that the truth would come out,” he said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Earl Bonachita, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City Chapter (IBP-Cebu City), said Corona should show up in today’s impeachment hearing, otherwise they would call for his resignation.

“The impeachment court extended more leeway for Chief Justice Corona to appear so the entire proceedings will be done over with. A cross examination is very important because it will be a gauge if the witness is telling the truth,” said Bonachita.

He echoed the stand of IBP National President Roan Libarios who said Corona would lose his moral ascendancy if he won’t undergo cross examination.

This call by the IBP is a departure from its earlier stand opposing Corona’s impeachment.

But lawyer Democrito Barcenas of the Liberal Party said there is no need for Corona to be cross-examined, but just the same, he should face the Senate sitting as an Impeachment court.

“He’s prestending to be sick. He walked out briskly. There was no sign that he was about to faint or very weak. Drama-drama ra na,” he said.

Barcenas said Corona could have asked the Senate impeachment court to discharge him if he wasn’t feeling all right.

“If he doesn’t respect the senators, he also doesn’t respect ordinary litigants,” Barcenas said.

Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles of the Court of Appeals and Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes said they wanted to see Corona go through cross-examination.

“I was hoping for a cross. But the prosecution may have seen that there they were already able to prove the allegations,” Ingles said.

Paredes described as “self-serving and hearsay” Corona’s defense that he only has four dollar accounts and three peso accounts contrary to the revelation Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in the Senate.

“A cross-examination is very important. His credibility and memory will be tested,” Paredes said.

“What Corona said was his version of the story. As Enrile said, that’s nothing if the chief justice won’t be subjected to cross examination,” he said.

Paredes said Corona should reveal everything.

“This is the first time in our country’s history that a chief justice is facing an impeachment trial. It means the judiciary is not exempt from public scrutiny,” he added.

Paredes, Ingles, and Barcenas didn’t appreciate Waiver of Confidentiality signed by Corona who was willing to waive the secrecy rule of his bank deposits as long as congressmen would also do the same.

“That (waiver) was his exhibition. A waiver should not be conditional,” he said.

Barcenas described Corona’s actuation in signing the waiver as an “exercise in futility.”

“I thought it (signing of waiver) was well-meant but it was conditional. He is not sincere. He’s not serious. Who is he to demand to 189 congressmen to likewise sign the waiver? He is the man on trial,” he said.

Barcenas said Corona, in his opening statement last Tuesday, admitted he had dollar and peso accounts which he didn’t declare in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth (SALN).

During his testimony, Corona said there was no need to declare his dollar accounts in his SALN as stated under Republic Act 6423 or the Foreign Currency Deposit Act of the Philippines.

Corona also said he didn’t state in his SALN his peso accounts since these are “co-mingled funds.”

Public officials are required to submit their SALNs under the Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

But Corona said Republic Act 6713 does not amend the Foreign Currency Deposit Act of the Philippines.

He said he was just following the law when he didn’t declare his dollar and peso accounts.

On judgment day, each of the 23 senator-judges would be given two minutes to explain their vote.

Sixteen votes are needed to convict Corona. Only seven votes are needed to acquit him.