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Sunday, March 4, 2012
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REDUCE DELAYS on Impeachment Trial
REDUCE DELAYS on Impeachment Trial seeks by Enrile
MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, presiding officer of the impeachment court, yesterday suggested that the prosecution and defense sit down and make a stipulation on facts to come up with an agreement as to which evidence and witnesses would be accepted in order to relieve the court of acting on numerous objections during the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“I think both panels should sit down and agree on this so as to cut
time for direct, cross exams, re-cross. Rules of court must be followed
like the rules of evidence that ensure rights of the accused, otherwise
the innocent could go to jail,” Enrile said.
Concerns have been raised about a protracted impeachment trial because of the large number of witnesses the prosecution panel intends to present in support of the allegations contained in the eight Articles of Impeachment against Corona.
Enrile was among those who were surprised by the list of over 100 witnesses presented by the prosecution panel in a press conference last Friday, and with his reaction of “oh my God!” it was clear that he was aware its implications on the length of the trial.
He said he has no choice but to accept those witnesses and much as he tried to hide it, there were signs that he was not too pleased with the presentation of the prosecution.
“You don’t have to have many witnesses if your case is strong. I thought they are limiting their evidence to what’s important and relevant. In that case, I can’t estimate anymore when we can finish them all,” Enrile said over radio dzRH.
He has advised the prosecution, particularly Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., to always be prepared when entering the impeachment court after they were bombarded with objections by the defense panel, in some cases, leaving them with no choice but to submit to the discretion of the court.
The defense panel has raised objections about the evidence and witnesses presented by the prosecution so far, a move seen by many as causing undue delay on the trial.
However, Enrile and the impeachment court have sustained a majority of the objections, which has inevitably left many members of the prosecution panel frustrated.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan also expressed his concern over the number of witnesses laid out by the prosecution last Friday because this could affect the other work that has to be done by the Senate and the rest of government.
Using the past two weeks of trial as basis, Pangilinan said it would probably take around 10 months to complete the presentation of 100 witnesses, not including the ones to be presented by the defense panel.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, on the other hand, said he would be willing to work as a senator-judge for as long as it takes, even if it means giving up his vacation time.
“As long as the witnesses will be relevant and material to any of the eight Articles of Impeachment, I am willing to support it for the sake of the truth and fairness, especially if it can help the senator-judges make a good, conscientious decision,” he said.
“This trial is far more important than our session break. It doesn’t matter to me if I have to work beyond our calendared session period,” he added.
Based on the legislative calendar for the second regular session of Congress, the legislators from both the Senate and the House of Representatives would be on break from March 24 to May 6.
After another month of sessions, from May 7 to June 7, they would go on yet another break from June 8 to July 22 with the sine die adjournment of the second regular session of Congress.
Marvin Agustin, PinoyE2 Correspondent
MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, presiding officer of the impeachment court, yesterday suggested that the prosecution and defense sit down and make a stipulation on facts to come up with an agreement as to which evidence and witnesses would be accepted in order to relieve the court of acting on numerous objections during the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“I think both panels should sit down and agree on this so as to cut
time for direct, cross exams, re-cross. Rules of court must be followed
like the rules of evidence that ensure rights of the accused, otherwise
the innocent could go to jail,” Enrile said.Concerns have been raised about a protracted impeachment trial because of the large number of witnesses the prosecution panel intends to present in support of the allegations contained in the eight Articles of Impeachment against Corona.
Enrile was among those who were surprised by the list of over 100 witnesses presented by the prosecution panel in a press conference last Friday, and with his reaction of “oh my God!” it was clear that he was aware its implications on the length of the trial.
He said he has no choice but to accept those witnesses and much as he tried to hide it, there were signs that he was not too pleased with the presentation of the prosecution.
“You don’t have to have many witnesses if your case is strong. I thought they are limiting their evidence to what’s important and relevant. In that case, I can’t estimate anymore when we can finish them all,” Enrile said over radio dzRH.
He has advised the prosecution, particularly Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., to always be prepared when entering the impeachment court after they were bombarded with objections by the defense panel, in some cases, leaving them with no choice but to submit to the discretion of the court.
The defense panel has raised objections about the evidence and witnesses presented by the prosecution so far, a move seen by many as causing undue delay on the trial.
However, Enrile and the impeachment court have sustained a majority of the objections, which has inevitably left many members of the prosecution panel frustrated.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan also expressed his concern over the number of witnesses laid out by the prosecution last Friday because this could affect the other work that has to be done by the Senate and the rest of government.
Using the past two weeks of trial as basis, Pangilinan said it would probably take around 10 months to complete the presentation of 100 witnesses, not including the ones to be presented by the defense panel.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, on the other hand, said he would be willing to work as a senator-judge for as long as it takes, even if it means giving up his vacation time.
“As long as the witnesses will be relevant and material to any of the eight Articles of Impeachment, I am willing to support it for the sake of the truth and fairness, especially if it can help the senator-judges make a good, conscientious decision,” he said.
“This trial is far more important than our session break. It doesn’t matter to me if I have to work beyond our calendared session period,” he added.
Based on the legislative calendar for the second regular session of Congress, the legislators from both the Senate and the House of Representatives would be on break from March 24 to May 6.
After another month of sessions, from May 7 to June 7, they would go on yet another break from June 8 to July 22 with the sine die adjournment of the second regular session of Congress.
Marvin Agustin, PinoyE2 Correspondent
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