JPE assures Corona of a fair trial

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said that Chief Justice Renato Corona will be given courtesy and fair treatment from senators in the impeachment trial where he is expected to attend Tuesday.

Enrile said, Corona will be summoned by the court to appear before the prosecution, defense and senator-judges but cannot be insulted or harassed.

However, the senate president just hoped that CJ will willingly respond to all allegations against him.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he likes to hear from the Chief Justice first before making any conclusion. "I just try to keep an open mind and wait for whatever comes. It's very hard to have prejudgment. We've been saying all along that CJ Corona testifying is the best," says Marcos.

He added that the rules of court are extremely clear. Of course there would be misinterpretation, but everyone has assured respect for CJ so we go by their word.

On the other hand, Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada said the prosecution team would be just as ready for "surprises" as it had been before the trial continued on May 7.

Tañada said that they had anticipated then that the defense might spring a surprise and present the Chief Justice or his wife as its witness.

He said, "If he does not answer certain questions, he will be put in an embarrassing situation."

The representative from Quezon thinks that Corona will explain his supposed $12 million in bank deposits, He said, "Either of two things: he can own the funds and explain where they came from, or he can say it's not his money and it belongs to Basa-Guidote Enterprises, the family corporation of Corona's wife."

He said that if he claims the funds are not his, he has to explain why they were held under his name. He has to come up with a credible story, Tañada threatened. — ARA