MANILA, Philippines - House prosecutors said Tuesday the lawyers of Chief Justice Renato Corona have "succeeded" again in delaying his impeachment trial as the debate on whether or not evidence on Corona's alleged ill-gotten wealth should be admitted in court continued.

The trial was adjourned at around 3:40 p.m., much earlier than expected and without anyone taking the witness stand.

"They have succeeded today in using technicalities to forestall the trial, which should have proceeded today," said Rep. Miro Quimbo, the prosecution panel's spokesman.

If Corona really has nothing to hide, Quimbo said the defense team should have stopped raising objections and allowed them to present their witnesses.

"Nakakahiya sa aming mga testigo. They have put their lives on hold. Many of them are actually fearing this particular situation."

"Instead of technicalities, pabayaan natin lumabas ang mga ebidensya at mga testigo na handa na at hayaang humusga ang ating mga senator-judges," he added.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares was one of the people subpoenaed to the impeachment trial today. She was supposed to testify on the income tax returns of the Corona family.

Flexible rules

Quimbo reiterated the prosecution's call for a "liberal" and "flexible" application of the rules of court in the trial, particularly in admitting evidence on Corona's supposed ill-gotten wealth.

"Today is a reflection in our mind that the proceedings are being conducted like criminal proceedings because we are overly concerned on processes or objections when, in fact, we could already present the witnesses today," he said.

Earlier in the trial, chief prosecutor Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. asked Senate president and Presiding Judge Juan Ponce Enrile for a liberal application of rules "so the truth will come out."

Tupas said that last week's proceedings saw at least 30 objections from the defense and 20 instances where the prosecution was asked to reform their questions.

Moreover, he said time was wasted on the debate on whether or not ill-gotten wealth was properly alleged in the impeachment complaint.

But Corona's lead counsel, Serafin Cuevas, said: "We have posed those objections, not to delay and with no intention to lengthen time. We were merely exercising the right of the respondent, pursuant to law, in accordance to law and the rules of evidence."

"We have been continuously objecting on a charge not incorporated in the impeachment complaint," he added.

Enrile had ordered the two panels to submit their memoranda on the issue.

Article 2

The defense, in their memorandum submitted before the impeachment court on Tuesday, asked the senator-judges to remove from the records evidence presented by the prosecution in relation to Corona's alleged ill-gotten wealth.

The prosecution called to the witness stand last week the registrars of deeds of Taguig, Quezon City and Marikina to present certificates of titles to the properties of Corona and his relatives.

Cuevas insisted, however, that the testimonies of those subpoenaed were not admissible in court since the allegation of ill-gotten wealth was not part of Article 2, which he said only referred to the alleged failure of Corona to disclose his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Last week, Sen. Francis Escudero pointed out that each article of the complaint "must accuse the respondent of a singular, separate act."

"There's no mention whatsoever of illegally acquired wealth. What have been referred to are allegations embodied in paragraphs 2.3 and 2.4 (of Article 2). These fall under discussion and arguments, not allegations," Cuevas said.

Cuevas also noted that the paragraphs 2.3 and 2.4 raised points that were merely based on suspicion, not facts, thus the use of words such as "reported" and "suspected."

"It is our humble submission that this allegation does not suffice for serving as basis for a cause of action on the part of the honorable impeachment officials."

But Tupas argued that paragraphs under Article 2 were sufficient in alleging that Corona acquired ill-gotten wealth.

"The allegation in the complaint is sufficient if it informs the respondent of the accusation against him. Kung naiintindihan ng respondent na ina-akusa s'ya, kung naintindihan n'ya 'yon, it will be sufficient."

Tupas said the chief justice clearly understood that he was being accused of amassing ill-gotten wealth since he himself acknowledged it in his reply to the impeachment complaint.

Quoting Corona's reply, Tupas said the chief justice "flatly" denied the allegation and said he acquired his assets from "legitimate sources of income, mostly from his professional toils."

Cuevas rebutted. Also reading a portion of Corona's reply to the complaint, he said: "We mentioned here that the allegations (paragraphs 2.3 and 2.4) are conjectural and speculative. They do not amount to a concrete statement of fact that will require a denial."

"Accusations of general terms have no place in pleadings. Hindi pinaguusapan dito kung naiintindihan. Ang tanong kung sinunod n'yo ba ang requirement ng pleadings. Kapag di sinunod, kahit naiintindihan, nilalabag nyo ang karapatan ni chief justice sa due process," he added.

The prosecution was ordered to submit its memorandum on Article 2 by 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The trial was adjourned pending resolution of the matter.