MANILA, Philippines鈥擲enate President Juan Ponce Enrile said on Sunday he could require the appearance of members of the House of Representatives to testify in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
But Enrile did not close the door on the possibility of prosecutors presenting relatives of Corona鈥檚 wife, Cristina, in connection with the family feud over the Basa Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI), later in the trial.
The impeachment trial is set to resume at 2 p.m. on Monday, with the Senate deciding on the prosecution鈥檚 formal offer of evidence and the defense鈥檚 motion to acquit Corona on the five articles of impeachment earlier withdrawn by his accusers.
Defense counsels will then begin presenting their own evidence, beginning with the argument that Corona was denied due process when House members prepared the verified complaint that led to his impeachment last December 12.
Enrile said the matter was already settled, and the trial has been ongoing. But defense lawyer Ramon Esguerra on Friday said the Senate denied only the motion for preliminary hearing when trial began last January 16.
Still, Enrile said the court would be 鈥渓iberal鈥� and accommodate the defense鈥檚 bid to summon certain House members to testify. But he said it would be better if the congressmen would 鈥渧olunteer鈥� to appear.
鈥淲e will consider that,鈥� he said, noting that Corona, being the accused, had the 鈥渞ight under the Constitution to seek the compulsory process鈥� of the impeachment court 鈥渢o compel the attendance of witnesses for his defense.鈥�
鈥淚f the defense panel has a request, we will discuss that in caucus.鈥�
Enrile added: 鈥淲e will not limit the defense 鈥� I will allow their evidence. It鈥檚 up to the court to examine which among them would be used or not.鈥�
The defense earlier listed six House members鈥攊ncluding Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and lead prosecutor Representative Niel Tupas Jr.鈥攁mong its witnesses.
But Esguerra said his camp would likely settle with Represenatatives Hermilando Mandanas and Tobias Tiangco and House secretary general Marilyn Yap. Mandanas and Tiangco both refused to sign the impeachment complaint and later lost key positions in the chamber.
Enrile said the prosecution could use the testimony of Cristina Corona鈥檚 relatives if they would be 鈥渞elevant鈥� to the charges against the Chief Justice. He said this would come later in the rebuttal stage after the defense has argued its case.
Cristina鈥檚 cousin Ana Basa earlier came forward to accuse the Coronas of a variety of misdeeds in connection with the family-owned BGEI.
Enrile said the issue should focus on the P11-million cash advance from BGEI, which was declared in Corona鈥檚 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth. He said the court should know if the corporation was still in a position to extend the cash advance.
鈥�(The prosecution) can use that (evidence) during rebuttal if it has a connection or if it is relevant,鈥� he said.
Enrile also set aside Corona鈥檚 allegation that a senator-judge had asked him to resign even before the impeachment trial court began.
鈥淚t鈥檚 immaterial and irrelevant (in the trial), but if he wants to identify who that person is, then he can do so,鈥� he said in Filipino.
鈥淭he motives of the people who accused him are immaterial to the decision on whether or not he is guilty or not. Is he guilty or not? That鈥檚 the issue.鈥�
Enrile said he would not advise Corona to stop making the rounds of media outlets in an effort to explain his side. He said prosecutors did the same and had 鈥渆xposed to the media everything they exposed in the impeachment court.鈥�
鈥淲hat鈥檚 sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 won鈥檛 ask (Corona) to keep silent. Let him reveal whatever he wants to reveal so long as it is relevant to the issue.鈥�