Senate on trial

The Senate started the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Corona yesterday with 11 House Representatives acting as prosecutors presenting 8 articles of impeachment. The House prosecution panel was composed of Niel Tupas Jr. of Iloilo, Joseph Emilio Abaya of Cavite, Raul Daza of Northern Samar, Georgidi Aggabao of Isabela, Marilyn Primicias Agabas of Pangasinan, Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Cavite, Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte, Reynaldo Umali of Mindoro Oriental, Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna, Arlene Bag-ao of Akbayan and Sherwin Tugna of Cibac. They will be assisted by 58 private lawyers.

Defending the Chief Justice will be a 12-man defense team headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas, UP Law; Eduardo de los Angeles, former Dean of Ateneo Law School, Ateneo Law 1966; former Justice Undersecretary Ramon Esguerra, UP Law 1979; Prof. Jacinto Jimenez, Ateneo Law 1966, third placer in the bar exams; Jose “Judd” Roy III, former Dean of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Ateneo Law; Joel Bodegon, former Solicitor, UP Law 1974; German Lichauco II, partner in Siguion-Reyna, Montecillo and Ongsiako law offices; Prof. Tranquil Salvador III, former Dean of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay Law School, UP Law; Rico Paolo Quicho, partner in the Quicho and Angeles Law Offices; Karen Jimeno, UP Law, cum laude, LLM Harvard University; Dennis Manalo, also from Siguion-Reyna, Montecillo and Ongsiako Law Offices, Ateneo Law 1995 and Noel Lazaro, also from Siguion-Reyna, Montecillo and Ongsiako Law Offices, UP Law 1995.

Chief Justice Renato Corona was present at the Senate yesterday. He arrived at the Session Hall at 1:45 p.m. with Mrs. Corona. His presence is not obligatory, but he has the option to attend if he so desires.

On the prosecution panel Cong. Raul Daza was the first to arrive. For the defense panel, the 12 lawyers led by Justice Cuevas arrived together at about 1:40 p.m.

21 Senators were present. Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago was indisposed, while Sen. Loren Legarda is in the United States.

Opening statements were delivered by Cong. Niel Tupas Jr. for the Prosecution and Dean Eduardo de los Angeles for the Defense. Trial days are scheduled from Mondays to Thursdays starting at 2 p.m.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, UP Law 1953, LLM Harvard University took firm control of the proceedings.

Minority Floorleader Alan Peter Cayetano put things in perspective when he said that the Senate itself is on trial. The underlying issues are the independence of the Supreme Court and the independence of the Senate.

The Senate was full packed with 350 people in attendance.

The battle of paid advertisements has started with Malacañang taking out three full pages.

*   *   *

SENATE PROFILE. . . It will require the votes of 16 Senator-Judges to convict or 8 Senator-Judges voting to acquit.

Of the 23 senators, 11 are lawyers. There are several blocs in the Senate. First, the Enrile Bloc composed of Senate President Enrile and Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Vicente “Tito” Sotto and Gregorio Honasan Jr.; 2nd the Liberal Party bloc composed of Senators Frank Drilon, Ralph Recto, Francis Pangilinan and T.G. Guingona with Antonio Trillanes as an ally.

3rd, the Nacionalista Party Bloc composed of Senators Manny Villar, Pia Cayetano, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Alan Peter Cayetano with Joker Arroyo as a possible ally.

Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto and Loren Legarda are members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Chiz Escudero resigned from NPC, is now independent.

Senators Ping Lacson, Miriam D. Santiago and Gregorio Honasan are independents.

There are 6 reelectionists for 2013, namely Chiz Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Gringo Honasan, Koko Pimentel and Antonio Trillanes. –Ernesto M. Maceda (The Philippine Star)