MANILA, Philippines - A rift is starting to appear within the House impeachment prosecution panel amid perceptions of its dismal performance during the first 2 weeks of the trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

House impeachment chief prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. confirms he will start letting other public prosecutors play more prominent roles in the prosecution of the 8 articles of impeachment against Corona.

Tupas, however, remains the chief of the prosecution team, being chairman of the House Justice Committee and having been elected as such by the plenary of the House.

"I'll talk pero ako, I'll encourage prosecutors to speak up to give them a chance to present witnesses to argue, more like I'll encourage them to be more active," he said.

Tupas added he will also let deputy lead prosecutor Rodolfo Fariñas make arguments before the court. "I told him that he should already talk because since weeks ago, I [already] told him that he will."

Fariñas assigned to article 3

Fariñas has supposedly been assigned to take over the next article, article 3, on the integrity, probity and moral fitness of Corona for office.

However, Fariñas, in a text message said, "I'm not taking over article 3. There were 2 instances I wanted to argue for our case but was prevailed upon not to. Hence, I have learned not to volunteer to contribute my arguments anymore."

Fariñas is not one of the 188 congressmen who signed and endorsed the articles of impeachment against Corona to the Senate. He was only later on elected by the plenary to be part of the 11-man impeachment team.

Two weeks ago, Fariñas was overheard telling his colleagues, "bahala na kayo" before leaving his colleagues to go to the restroom after the prosecutors got a dressing down from the senator-judges.

No rift - Tupas

Tupas, however, laughed off reports of a rift and dissent in the ranks, saying these are mere rumors and black propaganda.

"Nabalitaan ko headline pa nga sa newspaper. Dun na lang yan sa gossip section. Siguro yan gusto pakita ng kalaban namin we're not united. Sorry to tell the opposing camp, whoever nagpapakalat niyan, the prosecution is very optimistic, very solid. We're confident we will win this case. Ako, I can tell you straight in eye, intriga yan, gusto lang palabasin ng mga kalaban namin we're not solid. We're confident we would be like that till the end," he said.

Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales also laughed off the possibility Tupas will be replaced.

"Wala naman. Kasi, in fact, natatanong nga ako kung kailangan may palitan member ng prosecution team, wala naman dahilan...At the end of the day, [it's] perception. Ang feeling namin, naipasok ng prosecution ang, at least, mga dapat ipasok niya," he said.

Prosecution to stop after 4 articles?

Gonzales, however, said it's possible the prosecution will no longer finish with all 8 articles of impeachment and may stop after the 4th article.

The prosecution planned to present article 2, 3, 1, 7, 4, 5 and 6.

"Depende sa prosecution, but if you're going to ask me, my personal view, 3-4 [articles] lang dapat. The longer this drags, mas mahirap na maintindihan ng mga tao," he said.

Gonzales also defended the prosecution's performance, saying prosecution teams really start at a disadvantage because they shoulder the burden of proof.

Gonzales said another factor is the strictness of the court during the first 2 weeks of trial.

"I'm sure by this, time di naman masasabing di handa. Kaya lang kung minsan, may tanong din yung mga senador na under normal circumstances would not be allowed but it's allowed. May kaniya-kaniyang remarks. Personal judgment ang napapakinggan ng mga tao. Kung minsan, we're in the receiving end."

Spokesman Sonny Angara said it's too early to judge the prosecution panel. "First 5 minutes pa lang ho tayo ng basketball. Marami pang pwedeng magbago dito."