MANILA, Philippines - Senators were about to wrap up Day 12 of the impeachment trial when prosecutor Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas stood up—amid a cheering audience in the gallery—to attack Chief Justice Renato Corona for accepting free legal services from top caliber lawyers.
Defense counsel Serafin Cuevas, in a way, asked for it. Fariñas participated for the first time in the impeachment trial only to respond to Cuevas's attacks against the prosecution’s motion to enter the appearances of new private prosecutors.
Cuevas expressed concern that the “avalanche of private prosecutors" must be costing the government and taxpayers a lot. About 59 private lawyers have offered their free services to the prosecution.
Private prosecutors on the floor couldn’t help but shout, “pro bono.” One even said, “Abonado pa kami.”
Fariñas then told the court: “We are also surprised with the caliber of lawyers they have…. They are giving their services to the Chief Justice for free. They come from big law firms and they have pending cases before the Supreme Court."
“Bawal po sa isang public official na tumanggap ng regalo na nagkakahalaga ng malaki. De Kampanilya ang mga abogado niya. Mahal ang rates. Binibigay nila [serbisyo] nila ng libre,” Fariñas added.
In the end, Cuevas could only say to Fariñas: "Thank you for flattering us."
In the prosecution press conference that followed, Fariñas said the Chief Justice may have violated Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, when he tapped the services of lawyers for free. The code stipulates that public officials are not allowed to accept gifts that could affect the performance of their duties.
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