Corona appearance in Senate ‘immaterial’, lawmakers say

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Renato Corona’s possible appearance on Friday at the Senate impeachment court can no longer save him, lawmakers said.

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares deemed the chief magistrate’s appearance as “immaterial” after senator-judges heard Corona’s three-hour speech.

He said that even that could not make a dent on the prosecution team’s case.

“His statement was just a general denial with no amount of evidence to back it up.”

He and another Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casino saw Corona’s appearance before the impeachment tribunal as an attempt to appease the senator-judges which would no longer affect their case.

It was the defense panel’s way of trying to “salvage the situation and again try to draw sympathy or divert the issue,” said Casino.

“Corona and his defense team may have realized that his walkout last Tuesday was a  tactical error that may cost him a conviction. But the people and the senator-judges can see through these antics.”