Palace open to discussing merits of impeachment trial with INC, CBCP

Published February 20, 2012 5:34pm

Malacañang on Monday said it is open to discussing the merits of the impeachment case against Chief Justice Renato Corona to the leadership of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

“Well, bukas kami. We’re open to discussing with the INC and also with the CBCP, the merits of the impeachment trial,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing.

He also expressed confidence that the big gathering of the INC on February 28 will be strictly a religious one. The INC affair will be held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

“We have been assured that the INC rally on the 28th of February will be a Bible exposition. We expect them to be true to their word and that it will be a religious activity and no other,” he said.

“Being a Church, we expect them to be truthful with their statements,” he added.

The Senate has warned the prosecution and defense panels from discussing the merits of the case in public but there was no specific rule covering 'third parties,' according to impeachment court spokesperson Valentina Cruz. 'Unfortunate'

Meanwhile, Lacierda called as unfortunate Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles’s call for a halt of the impeachment trial, with the bishop saying Corona should be tried in a regular court and not in the Senate.

“That’s (impeachment) a constitutional solution. It may not be a biblical solution to his perspective, but it is a constitutional solution when it comes to impeaching or removing government officials,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate that Bishop Arguelles is only speaking now. When there was a call to come out with a truth, where was Bishop Arguelles? I was waiting for him to rally the people, to ilabas na ‘yung katotohanan, ilabas na ‘yung dollar deposits, ilabas na ‘yung bank deposit, kasi klarong klarong may discrepancy between the SALN at sa kung anong natuklasan na po impeachment trial,” he added.

“Di ba, po ang simbahan po ay para sa katotohanan so nasaan sila, at bagkus, ang hinihingi nila itigil ang isang proseso na nakasaad sa Saligang Batas,” Lacierda asked. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: coronaimpeachment, iglesianicristo, cbcp