MANILA, Philippines - Prosecutors of the House of Representatives were accused yesterday of resorting to “trial by publicity” in making public documentary evidence in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Cagayan de Oro City Judge Cesar Merlas, Metropolitan and City Judges Association of the Philippines (MetCJAP) president, said the move to expose documents showing Corona owns a 300-square meter apartment in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig could undermine the independence of the Senate impeachment court.
“Making public the Chief Justice’s alleged acquired properties ahead of the scheduled pre-trial and/or trial before the Senate is certainly foul,” he said.
Merlas said the MetCJAP would call on senators to take the necessary action against the prosecution team led by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr.
“The prosecutors should come to the impeachment court with clean hands,” he said.
Corona’s purported ownership of a house in La Vista subdivision in Quezon City, another in Loyola Heights in Quezon City, a condominium in Makati and another one in Bonifacio Ridge in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig was also bared in the House.
MetCJAP said the impeachment of Corona is an attack on the judiciary as an institution.
Last month, judges held a “court holiday” to protest Corona’s impeachment.
Retired Supreme Court justice Serafin Cuevas, Corona’s lead counsel, said the prosecution has yet to show evidence that Corona had acquired the questioned apartment through illegal means.
The new allegations against Corona would not stand in the impeachment trial, he added.
The rules of procedures provide that the prosecution cannot present evidence or new allegations in the complaint, Cuevas said.
Last Dec. 12, the House alleged that the property could have come from ill-gotten wealth, but has yet to present proof.
In his answer last Dec. 26, Corona said: “Complainants speculate that he (Corona) has not reported this in his SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth) and that its price is beyond his income as a public official. CJ Corona admits that he and his wife purchased on installment a 300-square meter apartment in Taguig, declared in his SALN when they acquired it.”
