For alleging Palace bribe try of senator-judges, Corona lawyer cited for contempt

(Updated 10:31 p.m.) The court must protect its honor. So argued Senate President and presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday as he announced that the Senate impeachment court would cite in contempt one of Chief Justice Corona's lawyers for claiming that Malacañang dangled a P100-million bribe in the form of project funding for each senator-judge. The senators were allegedly being urged to disregard a Supreme Court order stopping them from examining Corona’s dollar accounts. Jose Roy III said he was surprised that he was singled out because the entire defense panel had appeared at a press conference to make the allegation.   The penalty is still to be determined in caucus.   "This court must assert its dignity and honor in this proceeding and we're going to think about the penalty... commensurate to the degree [of] what we consider to be an accusation to the members of this court," said Enrile.   At a press conference on Feb. 12, Roy claimed that Malacañang, through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., had allotted P100 million for "soft" projects of each senator-judge from government savings.   Ochoa and several senators denied the accusation.   Roy was surprised   “We have extended our apology and I want to clarify that the acts undertaken were a collective act… We were a bit surprised but it may be premature to comment at this time,” he said.   On why he thinks he was singled out, Roy said, “Maybe the most charming one is the object of affection… I have not done anything wrong in my mind.”   However, the lawyer noted he was disappointed the defense camp would not be able to request the court for reconsideration.   Serious implication   Enrile said the implication of Roy’s statement "is rather serious because it — in effect — suggests that this court could be paid in making a decision.   “And I don't think that is a proper thing to even think about with this impeachment court," said Enrile. "We may be politicians but we have our own integrity and honor that we have earned."   On Feb. 29, the Senate impeachment court cited for contempt prosecution lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre II for covering his ears as Senator-judge Miriam Defensor-Santiago scolded the prosecution team for dropping the remaining five Articles of Impeachment.   Aguirre was not meted any penalty other than being admonished by the court. — with Rouchelle Dinglasan/KBK/VS/HS, GMA News