Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada. File Photo

MANILA, Philippines - Senator-judges will decide in a caucus today whether or not to approve the prosecution's request to subpoena the bank accounts of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

As they enter week 4, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada warned of the possible implications, once Corona's bank accounts are subpoenaed. The senator cited the case of the Estrada impeachment trial.
   
"If you can do that to a Chief Justice or to a President, you can do that to any ordinary person, to any businessman, baka nga magkaroon ng bank run, as what happened during the time of the impeachment trial of my father," said Senator Jinggoy Estrada on ANC's Headstart. "They presented Equitable Bank. Nagkaroon yata ng bank run yung Equitable bank."
  
"Yung dollar account ni President Estrada, Citibank voluntarily presented to the impeachment court which is violative of the law. That's why my father sued them for doing that."
   
Estrada recalled the case of his own father: former President Joseph Estrada who was also the subject of an impeachment trial and the controversial decision not to open the second envelope which allegedly contained incriminating bank documents.

"If that second envelope was opened, he should have been acquitted at wala tayong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na nagdusa ang taong bayan 9 na taon, and I think the 11 senators who voted not to open the 2nd envelope were proven right," he said.

Wake-up call for judiciary

Senator Estrada believes, the Corona impeachment trial will undoubtedly be a wake-up call to the judiciary. But regardless what their verdict might be, he said the trial's outcome could be bad for the country.

"If we convict the chief justice, people will say Malacañang is in full control of all branches of government; if we acquit him, Malacañang will still try to find ways in ousting the Chief Justice, hindi na titigil yan. Never-ending story na yan."
   
Asked if he would be willing to take over as Presiding Officer of the impeachment trial, in the absence of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, the senator was self-effacing, and said the hearings may only further drag on.

"Walang sinasabi sa rules that the Senate Pro-Tempore will sub, only for legislative sessions. I don't want to be presiding there over the Corona Impeachment Trial. If I will have to take up the challenge presiding, yung four hours na hearing, magiging eight hours... Memoryado nila yung Rules Of Court, ako hindi.  I'm not a lawyer."
   
Like father, like son?

Senator Estrada looks back at the time he chose to run as mayor of San Juan instead of finishing his law studies. He also conceded, it is difficult to surpass, or even equal the achievements of his father.
   
"My dad really wanted me to be a lawyer....I do not have his charisma.  Mas maganda siyang lalaki sa akin. He's done a lot for country--as mayor, senator, vice-president, president. Mahirap pantayan and kanyang achievements," he said.
   
Given his father's legacy, Senator Estrada insists, he is pressured to work harder.
   
"I don't want people to say, 'Anak lang ni Erap yan, artista lang yan.' I don't want people to say that I am only a Senator because of my father," he said.
   
For now, the senator can only hope that the Corona impeachment trial ends soon to give closure to the landmark case, and allow lawmakers to go on with their legislative duties.