Cabinet execs advised vs discussing Corona trial with senators

President Benigno Aquino III has instructed his Cabinet secretaries and allies in the Liberal Party to refrain from directly communicating with senators to avoid suspicions that the administration is trying to influence the outcome of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s trial. Budget Secretary Butch Abad, a ranking LP official, on Tuesday said while the executive branch fully respects the independence and separation of power of the legislative branch, it should cooperate with the prosecution team that is handling Corona’s impeachment and provide whatever information or details they would need. He said it is the responsibility of the government that justice is administered. “We owe it to the people that this particular case would move successfully.” The Senate will start with the impeachment trial on Corona, who is accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution and graft and corruption, on Jan. 16 when Congress resumes session after its holiday break. For his part, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said officials in the executive branch should be careful not to give impression to the public that the administration is “encroaching” on all branches of government. “Owing to the independence of the Senate and respecting the separate branch and to also allay the accusation that we are encroaching on all the branches of the government… Secretary Abad made that point very clear to distance ourselves from the Senate so as to avoid any accusation of partiality on the part of the senator-judges,” he said.   Pre-trial conference sought   Meanwhile, the Office of the Senate secretary on Tuesday announced that it will be seeking a pre-trial conference before the impeachment trial begins.   In an interview with reporters, impeachment court spokesperson Valentina Cruz said the pre-trial conference will determine what documents and which witnesses will be presented during the trial proper.   "Ang objective n’un is sabihin kung ano ng mga dokumento na ipi-presenta ng prosecution and defense at sabhin din kung sino ang mga witnesses nila. Ang objective mapabilis ang trial," she said.   But Cruz said if either camp wants to present surprise witnesses during the trial proper, then the senator-judges would have to decide for themselves.   She said a pre-trial conference, formerly called a preliminary conference, was also conducted before the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada in late 2000.   Cruz said the senators have yet to decide on their proposal. – with Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News