MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Renato Corona’s defense team said nothing can be proven yet from the comparisons being done by the prosecution about the Corona couple's properties and income tax returns.

In an interview with ANC, defense lawyer Rico Paulo Quicho said the allegations of the prosecution “don’t affect our case. Notwithstanding the documents, they have not proven anything.”

He said the prosecution has yet to rest its case. The presentation of evidence and the rebuttal from the defense will come in due time, he added.

“When the right time comes, we would be able to answer clearly, methodically and with precision all allegations,” he said.

He added it will be premature on their part to answer all allegations now, since they are also bound by the ruling of Senate President and Presiding Judge Juan Ponce Enrile that all parties are not allowed to present evidence before the public.

He said it’s “discomforting” that the prosecution is now presenting its case before the public after flubbing its presentation before the senator-judges on Wednesday.

“While we have to be quiet procedurally, our client is already agonizing, being pilloried, accused of so many things. At the end of the day, is there evidence to show he accumulated ill-gotten wealth?” he asked.

Raising the issue before Senate

He said there is already a ruling by the Senate striking down paragraph 2.4 of article 2 of the impeachment complaint, which deals with evidence in connection with Corona’s alleged ill-gotten wealth.

“And here comes the prosecution presenting their case before the media. Are we saying these people are over and above the process?” Quicho said.

He said the defense is seriously considering raising such issue before the impeachment body.

He said no evidence can be produced regarding paragraph 2.4.

Senator-judges decided to drop article 2.4 of the complaint, which had been the rallying cry of the prosecution in their effort to seek a Corona conviction for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

The particular paragraph reads: “Respondent is likewise suspected and accused of having accumulated ill-gotten wealth, acquiring assets of high values and keeping bank accounts with huge deposits…”

They retained, however, 2.2 and 2.3, which accuses Corona of failing to "disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth as required by the Constitution," and that "some of the properties of Respondent are not included in his declaration of his assets, liabilities, and net worth, in violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act."

Vindicated

He said they feel vindicated with the ruling of the impeachment court.

“It was a very positive outcome for us especially that we’ve been arguing vigorously that mere conjectures and surmises should not be substituted for the truth,” he said.

He downplayed ideas that presentation of evidence in paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 can still prove ill-gotten wealth.

“If that would happen, that’s already transgressing on the clear resolution of the court…However painstaking for the prosecution, the defense will make sure no allegations [regarding ill-gotten wealth] will be presented. Otherwise, there would be clear violation of the rights of the Chief Justice.”