Lacierda: Corona's move vs impeachment trial meant to 'hide the truth'

A Malacañang official on Thursday accused the camp of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona of “trying to hide the truth” when it asked the Supreme Court to stop the ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate.   At a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda also said a constitutional crisis is unlikely despite the Corona camp's move against the proceedings.   “There is no constitutional crisis. The Senate sitting as an impeachment court and the senators sitting as judges are very clear with their mandate. They are there to hold impeachable officials accountable,” Lacierda said.   He said Corona’s camp is looking for a friendly venue where they could voice out their frustration about the impeachment trial. “I think this is one way of trying to hide the truth… Could you imagine lahat ng interlocutory order iaakyat nila sa Supreme Court? Eh ‘di gaano katagal ‘yon?” he said.   In a petition for certiorari filed with a prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order and writ of injunction filed with the high court Wednesday, Corona’s lawyers also asked for the nullification of the impeachment complaint against Corona for allegedly being defective.   According to the petitioners, the Senate committed grave abuse of discretion when it granted the prosecution’s motion to subpoena Corona’s bank records to the trial.   They said the Supreme Court should stop the trial pending the resolution of their request to strike down Section 2.3 of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses Corona of not properly declaring all his assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).   Lacierda refused to give a comment on the scenario if ever the Supreme Court issues a decision in favor of Corona.   “I think the question should not be posed to us. It should be posed to the Senate because they are the respondents in that case. It will be up to the Senate to decide on that and I cannot venture an opinion on that matter,” he said.  — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News