“BIG DAY FOR TRANSPARENCY”-- PROSECUTORS

 “BIG DAY FOR TRANSPARENCY”-- PROSECUTORS  (18 January 2012)

Senate, Philippines  -  THE Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court was forced to turn over the controversial Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Networth(SALN) of  impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona on the third day of the impeachment trial.

Corona’s SALNs were submitted to the tribunal by SC Clerk of Court Enriquetta Vidal after she was ordered by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile as presiding officer to surrender the documents despite her repeated refusal.

 "Your honor, "I’m really in a quandary. I’m in dilemma right now. In view of the resolution of the court en ban on May 2, 1989. I'm restricted because it says here in one of the guidelines that all requests for SALN will have to file it with the clerk of court and the en banc will decide to release it or not,"  Vidal said.

Several attempts of the defense panel led by Atty. Serafin Cuevas to prevent her in submitting the SALNs were failed and inutile after the Senator-Judges defended the ruling of Enrile.

Senator Joker Arroyo pointed out in his manifestation that the lady witness be given a day to seek permission from the SC if she will be allowed to release Corona’S SALN or not.

"I am disturbed by these developments. The witness asks for authorization from her office. We do not know the the Supreme Court will react…We will run the risk of having a showdown between the Senate impeachment court and the Supreme Court. Give the lady a day to ask the Supreme Court for authorization rattan than use the strong arm of the impeachment court," Arroyo stressed.

Another Senator-Judge, Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano contradicts the manifestation of Arroyo saying that the subpoena was filed with the Court of Clerk and not with the Supreme Court.

"The problem is if all the witnesses come here and the subpoenas are issued to them and they will come and tell us that they will have to ask permission first from their boss that will erode the authority of this Senate impeachment court," said Cayetano.

Meanwhile, Prosecution panel Spokesman and Cong. Erin Tanada welcomed this development and hailed the Senator-Judges for upholding transparency in allowing the disclosure of Corona’s SALN.

“It is a “big day for transparency since Corona’s SALN have been kept away from  public’s eyes for more than nine years, Ito ay panimulang hakbang para malaman nag katotohanan. Ngayon, unti-unti nahuhubaran nag matagal ng ma-sekretong  Korte Suprema. Ito ay umpisa para malaman nag lahat ng sekreto ni CJ Corona," Tanada said.

Another Spokesman of the Prosecution, Cong. Edgardo Angara thanked the Senator-Judges for helping the panel to shed light on an issue when there was a “complete darkness.”

FLORANTE ROSALES
REPORTER/ANCHORMAN
DZRH-MBC