Sotto: Corona trial may be over by March 23
A day before the Senate formally starts the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, a Senate leader said the proceedings may be over by March 23, before Congress takes its Holy Week break.
In an interview on radio dzBB, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said if the trial would resume on May 7 as provided for in the legislative calendar, much of the momentum may be lost.
“March 23, last day namin ‘yan, March 24 ang break. Pag nag-break nang March 24, hindi nila kaya awatin dahil Holy Week ang kasunod noon at magre-rebolusyon ang House of Representatives pag nag-extend kami at hindi sila pwede mag-break,” he said.
Sotto said preparations for the trial have already caused much inconvenience to everyone, particularly the public, in terms of time and money. “Abala. Abala sa oras, abala sa gastos, sa lahat.”
The legislative calendar of the 15th Congress states the session will be until March 23. It will be adjourned March 24 to May 6, then resume from May 7 to June 7 before the session is adjourned sine die from June 8 to July 22.
Sotto hinted a worst-case scenario where the trial drags on until Congress adjourns sine die in 2013. He said they would not allow this, as it will render the trial moot.
“Pag nag-adjourn sine die 2013, may pending impeachment, delikado yan. Ang provision sa atin, wala na. Moot and academic or dismissed ang impeachment,” he said. “May masamang agenda ang nag-iisip habaan ‘yan, may maitim na agenda ang mga ‘yan, na ma-delay ‘yan. Hindi namin papayagan yan."
Palace calls for ‘vigilance’
In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte urged the public to watch or listen to live coverage of the impeachment trial to “make your own judgment.”
“We exhort everybody to monitor, watch, listen, learn and make your own judgment ... [It will be] good for us to be apprised of the pieces of evidence to be presented against the one on trial,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.
She declined to say if the Palace expects a swift and fair trial, saying Monday’s proceedings will only be the start.
“We cannot predict how long this will take, what courses of action both parties will resort to. Ultimately it would be up to the senate to decide gaano katagal gusto ang trial,” she said.
Valte also said President Benigno Aquino III will keep tabs on the coverage, and take time out between engagements to get updates.
She said Aquino has an engagement in Tarlac province on Monday morning, but may get updates from Malacañang on developments. — KBK, GMA News
In an interview on radio dzBB, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said if the trial would resume on May 7 as provided for in the legislative calendar, much of the momentum may be lost.
“March 23, last day namin ‘yan, March 24 ang break. Pag nag-break nang March 24, hindi nila kaya awatin dahil Holy Week ang kasunod noon at magre-rebolusyon ang House of Representatives pag nag-extend kami at hindi sila pwede mag-break,” he said.
Sotto said preparations for the trial have already caused much inconvenience to everyone, particularly the public, in terms of time and money. “Abala. Abala sa oras, abala sa gastos, sa lahat.”
The legislative calendar of the 15th Congress states the session will be until March 23. It will be adjourned March 24 to May 6, then resume from May 7 to June 7 before the session is adjourned sine die from June 8 to July 22.
Sotto hinted a worst-case scenario where the trial drags on until Congress adjourns sine die in 2013. He said they would not allow this, as it will render the trial moot.
“Pag nag-adjourn sine die 2013, may pending impeachment, delikado yan. Ang provision sa atin, wala na. Moot and academic or dismissed ang impeachment,” he said. “May masamang agenda ang nag-iisip habaan ‘yan, may maitim na agenda ang mga ‘yan, na ma-delay ‘yan. Hindi namin papayagan yan."
Palace calls for ‘vigilance’
In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte urged the public to watch or listen to live coverage of the impeachment trial to “make your own judgment.”
“We exhort everybody to monitor, watch, listen, learn and make your own judgment ... [It will be] good for us to be apprised of the pieces of evidence to be presented against the one on trial,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.
She declined to say if the Palace expects a swift and fair trial, saying Monday’s proceedings will only be the start.
“We cannot predict how long this will take, what courses of action both parties will resort to. Ultimately it would be up to the senate to decide gaano katagal gusto ang trial,” she said.
Valte also said President Benigno Aquino III will keep tabs on the coverage, and take time out between engagements to get updates.
She said Aquino has an engagement in Tarlac province on Monday morning, but may get updates from Malacañang on developments. — KBK, GMA News
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