6 prosecutors may cross-examine Corona

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Renato Corona's appearance on the witness stand in his own impeachment trial is the defense's "last stand," one of his lawyers said Saturday.
Atty. Tranquil Salvador III agreed with an analysis made by University of the Philippines professor and political analyst Prospero de Vera on dzMM that Corona's testimony in his Senate impeachment trial is a "gambit" by the defense.

"Totoo po iyan na sinabi na rin ng aking mga kasama na tatayuan na namin ito. In a way, this is our last stand," he said.

"Kung may Bataan noon, may Corregidor, we rise and fall with this. Tama po iyon," he added.
Salvador, however, said he is confident with the abilities of the the chief justice when he takes the witness stand.

He also urged the public to listen to Corona's testimony with an open mind.
Salvador said they had to thoroughly assess if Corona has to take the witness stand.

"Noong Lunes, mayroong isang pangyayari. Noon pong tinanong ang aming lead counsel (about $10 million), medyo nagulat po doon ang aming lead counsel," he said.
He said the defense later discussed this and realized that they were not only facing issues that have been discussed in the impeachment trial but other allegations as well.

"Pati pala iyung nasa labas, importante sa kanila (senators)," he said.
Salvador said they asked senator-judges if they will consider the $10 million allegation against Corona when they make their judgement.

"Ang lumalabas pong sagot ay positive. Dahil po doon, kung ganoon, handa po kaming harapin ito dito po at hindi sa labas," he said, adding that the defense now wants to present Corona's accusers to the public, in the same manner that Corona's accusers want him to face the music.

"Gusto namin, harapin na sa isang forum," he said.

Make or break for Corona

De Vera believes that Corona's appearance on the witness stand will make or break his case.
"Main event na ito. Ito na iyung actor sa telenovela," he said.

"Hangga't may agam-agam ang taumbayan na may tinatago at may akusasyon na may hindi dinidiklara, hindi ito mareresolba hanggat hindi magsalita ang chief justice," he added.

"This is beyond the dollar account. This is all about truth-telling. Iyung issue ng impeachment ay issue ng paghusga sa pagkatao ng isang public official. Bagamat importante iyung legal angle nito, iyung technicality kung bubuksan o hindi iyung dollar account, ang isang impeachment process, iyung pagsabi ng katotohanan ay napakahalaga sa impeachment trial," De Vera said.

He said Corona's testimony will be judged by the public not only on legal aspects or technicalities, but the chief justice's demeanor will also be under public eye.

"Iyung kaniyang pagsasalita, iyung kaniyang sagot sa mga tanong, iyan ay huhusgahan ng taumbayan, hindi lamang ng senator judges, kasi nasa TV iyan," he said.

"TV is a very cruel medium. Konting ngiti lang diyan, tingin sa malayo, nabibigyan iyan ng interpretasyon ng taumbayan kaya make or break ito para sa depensa," he added.

De Vera also said he wants to know if the defense made the right decision in presenting the chief justice.

"Pinakaimportanteng gambit ng depensa iyan," he said.

He compared Corona's case to the impeachment trial of then President Bill Clinton, who only gave a deposition.

"Ibang konteksto kasi ito. Dito kasi, kasama iyung presidente na nag-aakusa, malakas iyung pressure talaga. Sa aking palagay, na-obliga iyung depensa na baguhin iyung kanilang estratehiya at siya ay iharap," he said.

"Make or break iyan. Kung maganda ang kanilang performance sa dollar accounts, psychologically ay maganda ang public opinion diyan," De Vera said.

"Palagay ko tama iyung desisyon ng depensa na siya ay iharap. Sa palagay o, nagiba na iyung konteksto ng trial eh, Kung wala iyung mahabang break, puwede na nilang hindi iharap. May momentum iyung depensa bago mag-break eh," he added.

Quimbo: No CJ appearance, no acquittal

A member of the prosecution team, Rep. Miro Quimbo said the defense may have realized that it won't get a possible acquittal for Corona if the chief justice does not appear in his own trial.

"Walang iba eh. Umabot na sa punto na na-realize ng defense. You cannot get an acquittal without showing the chief justice. Why? Because the process is clearly political. We can keep debating pero in the end, this is a political process," he said.

"It is difficult for a senator to acquit unless the evidence is so weak or overwhelming in favor of the respondent," Quimbo said. "He cannot get acquitted if he does not not show up. That is my position."

He did not confirm reports that 6 prosecutors may grill Corona in his cross-examination.
Quimbo only said that a "large group" is preparing for Corona's appearance on the witness stand.

"Itago muna but like what I've said, karangalan iyan para sa amin. Basta naghahanda. Isang malaking grupo ang naghahanda," he said. "Kasama ako sa naghahanda."

Prosecution to respect Corona

Quimbo said prosecutors who will grill Corona will respect his position.

"We will be reasonable. Hindi rin naman katanggap-tanggap kung napakatagal (cross-examination). Kung napakatagal ang pagtatanong, ibig sabihin, wala kang pinanghahawakan," he said.

"Napakagaling na testigo niyan, He is the chief justice. He is a very smart person, galing ng Harvard iyan, hindi naman makakarating sa rurok ng legal profession kung hindi, so paghahandaan po talaga natin," he said.

"What we can promise is that the crossexam will be decent at kailangan ay iaccord sa kaniya iyung respetong kinakailangan ng kaniyang posisyon at bilang isang tao din. Hindi natin puwedeng babastusin po iyan," he added.

Quimbo said the prosecution will also respect Corona's right against self-incrimination but this will still undergo debate.

He issued the statement after Salvador hinted that the chief justice may invoke this right.

"Mayroon siyang mga karapatan na nakatadhana. Right against self-incrimination. Uupo siya, nasa kaniya po iyon. He is not prevented from invoking that. Iyung karapatan, let's not take take it away from him," he said.

Poisoned pawns?

Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, who is among those who will be on the witness stand ahead of Corona's appearance in the trial, said she welcomes the defense's decision.

"Higit pa sa pagiging kontento, talagang napupuno ako ng pag-asa na iyung ipinangako ni Chief Justice noong simula ng trial na sila nga ay haharap sa impeachment court at sa mga mamamayan at ibibigay ang kanilang panig sa lahat ng mga issueng ito pati na sa dollar accounts," she said. "Sa tingin ko sa ganitong pamamaraaan, harinawa mabigyan na natin ng maayos na closure ang trial na ito."

She said she is ready to testify regarding the letter-complaint her group wrote to the Ombudsman to ask for an investigation into Corona's alleged undeclared dollar accounts.
"Handa akong tumestigo," she said. "Gusto talaga namin ng full accountability."

De Vera, however warned that the defense's hostile witnesses could be "poisoned pawns" ahead of Corona's testimony.

He said the defense may try to demolish their testimonies before Corona himself takes the witness stand.

"Kung ma-demolish iyan, it softens up the process and pagdating kay chief justice, hindi mo masyadong madidiin. Iyan ang gambit ng depensa," he said.