CJ Corona Must Place Himself On The Impeachment Court Witness Stand.
By asiacevillar
@asiacevillar (643)
Philippines
March 23, 2012 3:18am CST
With his impeachment process on a high, although it's on a 1-month lay-off, His defense team must heavily and profoundly prepare for its next steps since the preliminary set of evidences that they have presented seems to have a deficient substance to contravene the accusations slapped unto him.
The Senator-Judges also seems to be unsatisfied with the Defense Panel presentation- it shows on most of their faces and with the line of questioning they had during the process.
Especially now that the Prosecution team had already articulated that they noted down some flaws with the Defense's presentation and that they'll be having a continuous and more profound study of their own presentation while the impeachment trial is on a 1-month hibernation.
The senator-judges are still confused as to the truth behind his acquisition of the multi-million The Columns property among others such as the story behind his alleged withdrawal of 34 million pesos from the PS Bank the day he was impeached ( Dec.12, 2011 ), Undisclosed assets and/or liabilities over the years 2004 up to the 2009 et al.
Hence, some of the Senator-Judges suggested that CJ Corona must take the witness stand himself so that all the unanswerable answers be finally resolved- so that he could be able to exonerate himself and most importantly, to expedite the proceedings. And if he refuses to do so, that would be a Prima Facie display to some, that he is really hiding something from the public.
Although the decision still lies on him and on the minds of his defense team as well, nobody can really compel him to do so. Moreover, it's violative of his rights. A respondent just like him has also an option whether to face the court or not. 
The senator-judges are still confused as to the truth behind his acquisition of the multi-million The Columns property among others such as the story behind his alleged withdrawal of 34 million pesos from the PS Bank the day he was impeached ( Dec.12, 2011 ), Undisclosed assets and/or liabilities over the years 2004 up to the 2009 et al.
Hence, some of the Senator-Judges suggested that CJ Corona must take the witness stand himself so that all the unanswerable answers be finally resolved- so that he could be able to exonerate himself and most importantly, to expedite the proceedings. And if he refuses to do so, that would be a Prima Facie display to some, that he is really hiding something from the public.
Although the decision still lies on him and on the minds of his defense team as well, nobody can really compel him to do so. Moreover, it's violative of his rights. A respondent just like him has also an option whether to face the court or not. 2 responses
@alphenor (686)
• Philippines
23 Mar 12
No, he does not have an option to do so. He's the accused, and the accused must defend himself, and in this case, personally since there are things that the Senator Judges need to clarify. He should also attend the proceedings, just like what Former President Joseph Estrada did when he was impeached.
@asiacevillar (643)
• Philippines
23 Mar 12
Hi!
I totally respect your postulation
. But let me ask you, if he had no option or if he's prohibited by law to place himself on the impeachment court witness stand then why on earth did the good Senator-Judges suggested the defense team to put their client or the respondent on the witness stand? Do ye think they would transgress the laws they have made? I don't think so.
Anyway, Thanks for being a part of the discussion.
. But let me ask you, if he had no option or if he's prohibited by law to place himself on the impeachment court witness stand then why on earth did the good Senator-Judges suggested the defense team to put their client or the respondent on the witness stand? Do ye think they would transgress the laws they have made? I don't think so.
Anyway, Thanks for being a part of the discussion.@alphenor (686)
• Philippines
15 May 12
I went overboard with this one...
Well the good thing is he finally decided to place himself on the witness stand! Too bad the long persuasion will be a factor in his experience in front of the Senator-Judges. He has been refusing them since they suggested it and the Senator-Judges will be asking more questions than what they have planned. 
Hope this CJ Corona issue would be resolved soon.
Well the good thing is he finally decided to place himself on the witness stand! Too bad the long persuasion will be a factor in his experience in front of the Senator-Judges. He has been refusing them since they suggested it and the Senator-Judges will be asking more questions than what they have planned.
Hope this CJ Corona issue would be resolved soon.
@yahnee (1243)
• Philippines
23 Mar 12
I believe the defense is still trying to determine if there is really a need for the chief justice to appear in the senate impeachment panel. In an interview with Arnold Clavio, the chief justice stressed the point that the defense lawyers would be ones to require him to appear as his own witness in court should it be deemed right and justifiable. At this point, he is only a client of the defense and not the chief justice so what Justice Cuevas deems right would be the course of action that the chief justice will take. I believe Mrs. Corona will take the stand this coming May. However, the defense is still on the process of showing evidences for the SALN and it might still take a while before we see real action especially because of the 1 month recess. I will really miss watching the impeachment this April. I have not missed a single day and I sure have learned a lot. I am not yet convinced that CJ Corona is innocent but I am into thinking that the impeachment was really done in haste without preparation. They must have thought that CJ Corona will resign from office just like what Merceditas Gutierrez did but unfortunately he stayed on and fought for his own person. This was what made me think if there was indeed reason for the impeachment since if a person chooses to stand trial before the whole Filipino people, he must really have some proof to back him up.
@asiacevillar (643)
• Philippines
23 Mar 12
I believe that the Defense is into that idea nowadays but I think what they fear most about would be the unrelenting questions coming from the Senator-Judges the time their client takes the witness stand. I think that's what makes them apprehensive and reluctant if they do such action.
Some senator-Judges even thinks that having Mrs. Corona on the witness stand is immaterial, even though she's the one who allegedly made the SALN of the CJ.
I also believe that choosing to face the trial instead of resigning just like what the impeached ex-Ombudswoman did because the public would say he/she is hiding something or is culpable of the accusations, is not always the case. We can't really say. About the impeachment 'filed in a haste' issue is now immaterial, what's important now is that the Defense must show the Filipino people that their client is indeed innocent of the accusations against him. They must clearly show that their client is "NOT guilty beyond reasonable doubt" since it was their proposal that their client can only be given a guilty verdict when it is beyond reasonable doubt as AGAINST the Prosecution's "Substantial Evidence".
The Defense are now ought to validate that.
Thank you for being a part of the discussion. Have a good Evening.
Thank you for being a part of the discussion. Have a good Evening. 