Prosecution scores on first day of Corona impeachment trial

(Updated 7:10 p.m.) The House prosecution team was off to a good start Monday in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona when the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, junked two pleadings favoring the chief justice, including a bid for a preliminary hearing that would have delayed the start of the trial proper. The Senate also denied a motion filed by lawyer Fernando Perito, who is not from the defense team, asking the impeachment court to cite the members of the prosecution team for indirect contempt for presenting at a press conference the deed of sale of Corona's condominium unit at The Bellagio in Taguig — an evidence in the case. At the start of the historic trial on Monday, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile denied Corona's motion for a preliminary hearing "for lack of merit."   Defense lawyers said although they were "unhappy" with the decision, they were really anticipating it. “We are unhappy with the decision of the impeachment court but we are satisfied that they listened to our arguments,” Jose Roy III said in an interview after the day's trial. "We all hope and expect that we be given a fair opportunity to defend Chief Justice Renato Corona as the prosecution might misuse information to poison public perception." For his part, Tranquil Salvador III, another defense lawyer, said: “Inaasahan na namin ito. Kaya nga handa na kaming magkaroon ng opening statement.” In his Answer to the Articles of Impeachment, Corona had sought the outright dismissal of the complaint, citing constitutional infirmities and bias against him. He then filed a separate motion asking for a preliminary hearing to declare the impeachment complaint against him "defective." In junking the motion, the Senate gave weight to the House prosecution team’s position, argued by lead prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr., that the impeachment process was done in accordance with its rules.   “It is very clear that it is verified by 188 members of the House. It went through the plenary and was approved by the plenary,” Tupas told the impeachment court.   Tupas presented a copy of the House journal showing that the 188 signatures in the impeachment complaint were verified by House secretary-general Marilyn Baura-Yap. Meanwhile, Enrile said he denied Perito's petition because the latter does not have legal "standing" in the impeachment court. "He is neither a lawyer for the defense or lawyer for a participant in this proceeding," the Senate leader said. The Senate just "noted" Corona's motion to take the appropriate action against the prosecution team regarding the presentation of the evidence. Section XVIII of Senate Resolution 39, which contains rules on the impeachment trial, prohibits prosecutors, senator-judges, the person impeached, their counsel and witnesses from “making any comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial.” Prosecution welcomes 'early victory' Tupas, meanwhile, thanked the Senate for dismissing the two motions favoring Corona. “Nagpapasalamat kami sa impeachment tribunal doon sa dalawang motions na dinismiss. At least ‘yung inaasahan namin, nangyari naman lahat,” he said at a press briefing after the adjournment of the impeachment trial. Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo, one of the prosecutors’ spokesmen, said he hopes the favorable rulings of the Senate will motivate members of the panel. “We are hoping that we will be doing just as well in the coming days,” he said during the same briefing. “Ilang araw naming pinaghandaan ito, pero mahabang usapin pa ito. Hindi kami magiging kampante. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang magiging paghahanda ng prosecution laban kay Corona,” he said. He added that the prosecutors will strictly comply with Enrile’s directive to observe the rule prohibiting the public release and discussion of evidence for the impeachment trial. Historic impeachment Members of the 23-person Senate sit as judges to determine whether Corona, an appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, should be removed from his post and become the highest-profile scalp yet in the Aquino administration's relentless anti-graft drive. The session started less than an hour after Corona, who has denied the charges against him, arrived at the Senate. He was accompanied by his wife Cristina and two children, Carla and Francis. He was also accompanied by SC spokesperson and Court Administrator Midas Marquez. Earlier in the trial, retired Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, head of the defense team, manifested the presence of Corona. He likewise manifested that Corona is entering a plea of not guilty to all charges in the impeachment complaint. Senator Franklin Drilon, however, told Cuevas that he is only being asked to enter the appearance of the defense team and not make manifestations yet. Cuevas agreed and introduced the remaining members of his team. - with Rouchelle Dinglasan/KBK/KG, GMA News