Prosecution wants another private lawyer added to panel

By KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA News

Published January 18, 2012 12:52pm

After a minor 'setback' at the impeachment trial, the House prosecution team on Wednesday informed the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, that they will be adding another private lawyer to its panel that will prosecute Chief Justice Renato Corona.

In a two-page document submitted to the Senate, chief prosecutor Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. filed an entry of appearance for Atty. Jose Antonio Hernandez into the trial.

"Kindly enter the appearance of the undersigned counsel as additional private prosecutors, under the control and supervision of the panel of prosecutors of the House of Representatives...the panel of prosecutors reserves the right to enter the apppearance of other private prosecutors as may be necessary," Tupas said.

According to the website lawyers.com, Hernandez is a partner at the law firm Poblador Bautista & Reyes.

Another website for lawyers and law firms said he obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of the Philippines and his masters from the University of Michigan.

Opposition vs private prosecutors

The lawmakers made the move after the Senate refused the petition of the defense team not to allow private lawyers to assist the House prosecution panel.

The defense had asserted that the Senate should not allow private lawyers to join the House prosecution because there is "no compelling justification" to do this.

They cited Rule VI, Section 15 of the rules of procedure promulgated by the House of Representatives which state that "the House of Representatives shall act as the sole prosecutor at the trial in the Senate through a committee of 11 members to be elected by majority vote."

But under Section XIII of the Senate rules of impeachment "Counsel for the parties shall be admitted to appear and be heard upon an impeachment: Provided, That counsel for the prosecutors shall be under the control and supervision of the panel of prosecutors of the House of Representatives."

The other trial lawyers who will assist the House panel in the impeachment proceedings are:

Mario Bautista,
Arthur Lim,
Clarence Jandoc,
Ernesto Viovicente,
Frederick Vallestero, and
Winston Ginez

Tuesday's impeachment trial had to be cut short because the prosecutors were not prepared to present evidence on any of the Articles of Impeachment, which the defense deemed an early victory.

The prosecution is expected to present evidence on Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses Corona of failure to disclose his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: coronaimpeachment, renatocorona