Senator Ralph Recto on Tuesday asked the Senate, sitting as the impeachment court, to allow the defense panel to present evidence after every presentation of evidence of the prosecution on each of the Articles of Impeachment against Chief Justice Corona.

 

"I think it would be best for all of us if the prosecution is allowed to present their evidence, their witnesses for a particular article, then give [the defense] the opportunity to defend themselves per article as well and at the end we vote accordingly," Recto said during the continuation of the proceedings.

But Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile explained that under existing rules, the defense can only present evidence after the prosecution finishes presenting theirs for all the eight Articles of Impeachment.

 

Likewise, Enrile, presiding officer of the impeachment court, said that they must amend the rules of impeachment if they are going to change this. 

 

"That would need an amendment of the rules of impeachment of the Senate, in which case we would need to republish [the rules]," he said.

 

But Recto said that maybe they can talk about it in caucus at an "appropriate time."

 

"Para bang may mali na posibleng ang prosecution mag-oopensa ng 100 witnesses sa loob posibleng isang taon bago makasagot naman ang defense," he said.

 

Enrile, however, said that this is the reason why they have stenographers record the proceedings.

 

"Yun ang batayan ng magkabila pati na rin ng hukom pag-aralan ang kabuuan nung kaso at dun nila papasayahan kung sino ang nagsasbai ng totoo at sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo," he said.

 

"Talagang ganyan po ang proseso kahit sa husgado," he added.

 

Recto, for his part, said he was worried that the senators might forget the details when it's finally the defense team's turn. Enrile then said this is the reason why they need to make notes.

 

Corona was impeached on the following grounds:

 

 

The prosecution is currently presenting evidence on Corona's failure to disclose his SALN. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News