Prosecution: Senate should assert right to try impeach cases

Monday, February 13, 2012

MANILA -- The prosecution team urged the Senate to assert its constitutional right to try and decide on impeachment cases and defy the Supreme Court’s (SC) order stopping the disclosure of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s bank accounts.

“For us, the Senate should assert that the impeachment tribunal is a class of its own,” House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, one of the spokespersons for the prosecution panel, said.

Tañada said he recognizes that senator-judges will not be making an easy decision as this will set a precedent in future impeachment proceedings.

This is the first time that the High Tribunal issued a TRO on the subpoena issued by the Senate although it has previously stopped impeachment proceedings in the past – that of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. in 2003 and resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez in 2010.

“The decision they will make is not an easy decision because there is no jurisprudence which may be a basis for their decision. Senators should be mindful of the historical impact for future impeachment proceedings,” Tañada said.

The Senate sitting as an impeachment court is expected to decide on the TRO upon the resumption of the trial Monday. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)