'Bias' of 5 senator-judges is grave abuse - defense
MANILA, Philippines - Defense lawyers of Chief Justice Renato Corona believe the bias of 5 senator-judges for the House prosecution panel is a possible ground that the Senate impeachment court committed grave abuse of discretion in Corona's impeachment trial.
In a press conference, lawyer Karen Jimeno said the defense team filed a supplemental petition to their petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court because of the perceived partiality of 5 senator-judges.
"Yung tungkol dun sa patuloy na napapansin na parang kumikiling ang ilang senator-judges sa prosekusyon, ito ay karagdagan sa alegasyon na mayroong grave abuse of discretion sa bahagi ng impeachment court," she told reporters.
She said that under the Constitution, the Supreme Court has the power to review the function of any government instrumentality that commits grave abuse of discretion.
Corona, through his defense team, earlier asked the Supreme Court to declare the impeachment complaint as null and void and stop the presentation of evidence in the trial including his bank records.
Based on the 39-page urgent petition for certiorari, he accused the court of grave abuse of discretion for lack or excess of jurisdiction in retaining 2.3 of Article II of the impeachment complaint, and for issuing the subpoena for his bank accounts as requested by the prosecution.
He later filed a supplemental motion before the Court, citing the tendency of some senator-judges to "propound questions more akin to cross-examinations and loaded with veiled threats, securing for the prosecution what they failed to do for themselves."
The senator-judges mentioned are Franklin Drilon, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Pangilinan, Teofisto Guingona III and Sergio Osmeña III.
Lawyer Tranquil Salvador III said Corona noted instances when the 5 senator-judges asked questions that tend to favor the prosecution.
He said they are not asking the 5 senator-judges to inhibit in the impeachment trial. He said the Senate impeachment court made no move with respect to their earlier petition for Drilon to inhibit in the trial, even as Drilon refused to inhibit.
Quipped Salvador: "Para kang nagtext ng mahaba tapos ang sagot sa akin, 'OK.'"
He, however, added that the defense understands the sentiments of the Senate when it comes to inhibition.
Extracting evidence?
Lawyer Rico Paolo Quicho, meanwhile, said he expected the senator-judges to ask clarificatory questions and not extract information from the witnesses that the prosecution could not get on their own. He also said the judges can ask questions on points of law.
He said it was the first time that he had seen a senator-judge ask for a subpoena.
For his part, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said not even Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile can stop any of the senator-judges from asking for a subpoena.
"Para matapos na itong proseso ng impeachment trial, para malaman natin ang katotohanan," he said.
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IT MORE GRAVE OFFENSE
TO THE DEFENSE TEAM OF CORONA.
IT IS MORE GRAVE OFFENSE TO CONTINUE DEFENDING A PERSON LIKE CORONA FOR THE SAKE OF STEPPING ON THE LESS FORTUNATE FILIPINOS TO CONTINUE IN POVERTY!!
YOU CALLOUS AND MONEY, POWER HUNGERED LAWYERS!!!
READ THIS:
by Candymint on Tue, 02/14/2012 - 03:08
Liar, liar go to hell Thief Justice Corona. Here you go...
http://www.propinoy.net/2012/02/06/mr-corona-prove-that-you-have-nothing...
BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC, ESTE, MARITAL TRUST
Chief Justice Renato Corona wants to project the image that he is a loving husband to his wife, Cristina. The fact is, the Chief Justice has not only betrayed the public trust but most importantly, has betrayed his marital vow.
If the Chief Justice is man enough, He should admit the fact that he has a long-standing romantic relationship with a gentle lady named EVA with whom the Chief Justice has two (2) illegitimate sons. EVA also hails from Batangas and had her education from Assumption College just like his wife Cristina who also graduated earlier from the same school.
For Chief Justice Renato C. Corona not to mention his children with EVA as if they do not exist at all, is the highest form of ignominy and immorality that he can commit not only against his legitimate wife and family but against his oath as the highest magistrate of the land.
An inquiry into his relationship with EVA and his illegitimate children in connection with the on-going impeachment trial becomes extremely necessary in the light of the properties given by the Chief Justice to them. EVA, who has previously undergone a heart bypass operation, is known not to have worked from the time she had this romantic liaison with the Chief Justice nor does she have any known business of her own and yet, EVA is luxuriously living in the United States, together with her two (2) illegitimate children with the good Chief Justice.
The SALN of CJ Corona does not indicate any such properties.
And the reason for the frequent trips of CJ Corona to the United States, the latest of which was late last year, was to visit EVA and his children with her. That CJ Corona could afford to support the kind of luxurious lifestyle of EVA and her children in the U.S. is certainly for the Chief Justice to explain considering his small salary.
A simple investigation on the identity and circumstances of EVA can easily be done by a simple inquisition in Batangas as well as from the classmates, relatives and friends of EVA and of CJ Corona.
I know these facts because EVA is a relative of mine and it pains me immensely to see the Chief Justice professing his love for Cristina on nationwide television when he has confessed to my relative that he loves her far more than his wife. In fact, the Chief Justice made EVA believe that he was already separated from his wife Cristina. This probably explains why for the longest time, the Chief Justice has not reported in his SALN the fact of Cristina's working in government and the fact that Cristina has not signed the SALNs as his wife.
Betrayal of public trust? This is a small matter than what the Chief Justice has done to his wife and family which constitutes the highest form of immoral act - BETRAYAL OF MARITAL TRUST.
Real name of CJ Corona's girlfriend - Eva Auria; She hails from Rosario, Batangas; She graduated from Assumption College (not from Maryknoll College) She has two (2) sons with CJ Corona who are now in their teens; She is residing now in the United States. CJ Corona's wife, Cristina, knows about the elicit relationship of her husband with Eva. To know more about the details on Eva, a simple investigation of Eva's background in Rosario Batangas and Assumption College would elicit the necessary informations. Eva has plenty of properties in the US. They keep secret the exact address. The bagman of CJ Corona (who facilitates the transfer of funds from Corona to Eva is "Abet" who is a relative by affinity of Eva, being married to a stepsister of Eva. (The wife of Abet has the same mother as Eva but different Fathers). The biggest delivery to Eva involves the bribe money given by the Aguirres of Banco Filipino.
If the bank accounts of CJ Corona and his wife are opened, it will not be a surprise to see a running balance of not less than P200M. The bribe from the owner of the previously closed alone was a whopping P200M. And most money went to Eva through the Assistance of Abet.
The sons of Corona carry the name of the mother. But CJ Corona has openly recognized Ate Eva's sons as his. A simple search at the NSO using "Renato C. Corona" would readily reveal this. For a time, when Eva was still in the Philippines, Renato and Eva lived as husband and wife. In fact, all our relatives in Rosario, Batangas and in the United States, knew the long-standing relationship. We all thought that Renato was already separated from Cristina. Some of Renato's relatives in Tanuan, Batangas where he hailed from, know about this relationship. Some friends of Renato have seen the 2 sons and have been their ninongs. All our relatives thought really that Renato will never deny his relationship with Ate Eva. Sana hindi nya gagawin iyon kasi kawawa sya at ang mga bata.
Justice for Sale
Due citizens concern regarding the impeachment of Thief Justice Corona, citizens have come forward to give prosecution the evidence to do so. If one were a bank officer and sees all this transactions taking place, one cannot help but make some sort of "citizens arrest". The best form of doing this is to secretly make copies of all this bank statements and give it to the prosecution. Otherwise,the Thief Justice could go scott free with his "kalokohan".
Now, it seems that this evidences have been indeed correct and have shown that the Thief Justice had indeed not been honest in filling up the contents of his SALN. This indicates an attempt to cover up his wealth which could lead to a conclusion of "Justice for Sale". Now, if a Senator Judge ask questions that ferret out the "truth", is this BIAS? Is this grave abuse of discretion? My answer is grave abuse of discretion is when you receive some sort of compensation and in return for that compensation iyou will now lead the prosecution of a case in another direction. Like issue a TRO when even all the requirement for such TrO have not yet been met.
Corona is toast. He should resign now and let this Senator judges rest. If not, it might be too late and his best option would be to do an Angelo Reyes.
Mali ang structure ng impeachment
Ang mga senador kasi ay ibinoto ng mga tao kalimitan dahil sila ay SIKAT, POGI, SEXY, or dahil kamag-anak siya ng mga dating personality na matunog ang pangalan. Ang mga Pinoy ay hindi binoboto ang mga kandidato na hindi nila kilala. Kaya nga mga artista ang binoboto nila, or yung mga kandidato na ine-endorse ng mga artista.
In conclusion, hindi ibig sabihin na ikaw ay senador eh competent kang maging isang Impeachment Judge. Yan ang mali sa sistema.
Bias 5 Senator? simple Propaganda war
Mukhang strategy ngayon ng DEPENSA ang "winning the hearts and mind ng ating mga kababayan" o ang labanang PROPAGANDA O AIR WAR.
Kapansin-pansin ang mga sunud-sunod na PRESS CON at consistent na pinalalabas na "walang kwenta itong IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, BIAS ang mga SENATOR, KANGAROO COURT, BAYAD na ng PALASYO ang mga SENATOR.
Inaasahan din at hindi malayong mangyari, lalo na kung mararandaman nilang "MALAPIT NG MASUKOL si CORONA (CONVICTION), muling GAGAMITIN nito ang SUPREME COURT at sasabihing may "MIS TRIAL o BUWAGIN na ang impeachment trial."
SIGURISTA RIN...