MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Several senator-judges assailed the defense for "maligning" their name by claiming that Malacañang tried to bribe them so that they would defy the Supreme Court's (SC) order stopping the opening of the supposed dollar accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona in Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank). 

Senator-judge Jinggoy Estrada challenged the defense to name their source after putting them in such a situation.

In a statement read on Sunday, the defense said: “Yesterday, we received very reliable information that Exec Secretary [Paquito Ochoa Jr.], acting in behalf of President Aquino, was personally contacting and phoning senator-judges to pursuade or pressure them to defy TRO issued by SC in favor of PSBank.”

“Ayaw kong palagpasin ang pagkakataong ito…the independence, integrity and honor of the Senate are at stake,” Estrada said.

Some of the senator-judges also warned the defense lawyers, except lead counsel Serafin Cuevas, could be held liable for contempt.

The defense was ordered to explain why they should not be held in contempt.

Apologies

Defense lawyer Judd Roy apologized, saying they had been pushed to the wall by the alleged overtures from Malacañang.

Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano asked if they would be liable if the defense did the same thing with other courts.

Roy said, “those are terrible allegations, but may we clarify. What we said was we received information there were offers. We never meant to taint the name [of the senator-judges].”

Cayetano said, “But by implication, you’re saying we’re susceptible to bribery.”

“Humihingi po kami ng dispensa kung hindi malinaw ang pahayag,” Roy said. He said the defense team members came in full force “to show there’s no malice [in what we said. It’s just a matter of principles.”

He said they are already being tried in public, even if their time has not come yet.

Corona to open bank documents?

Roy also said Corona himself will “in due course” agree to open his bank accounts.

The defense was quoted as saying that Corona will open his bank accounts since he has nothing to hide.

“So we assume he has agreed?” asked senator-judge Franklin Drilon. Roy answered, “At the appropriate time, all the relevant bank accounts.”

Drilon asked the court “to require the defense when they’re going to open [accounts] since [Corona] has already given his consent.”