by ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Tuesday told the defense team of Chief Justice Renato Corona to focus on the impeachment case instead of trying to make Sen. Edgardo Angara inhibit himself in the trial.
In an interview, Enrile said he sees no need for the senator-judge to inhibit himself in the trial even if Angara’s son, Rep. Sonny Angara, is a spokesman of the House prosecution panel.
"Why should he inhibit himself? His son is an adult. He is not a dependent of Senator Angara. Why should there be conflict?" he asked.
The Senate President said that instead of raising technical issues, the defense should focus on disproving the allegations against the Chief Justice.
Prosecution spokesman Erin Tañada earlier said it is unfair to the senator and his son to impute that they are of like minds.
He noted that the younger Angara did not even accept the task of becoming a prosecutor because he knew his father would be a judge in the impeachment trial.
"It's just a desperate move by the defense to impute certain malicious thoughts in the people's minds that both Angaras don't have the independent minds to make certain decisions," he said.
Rep. Miro Quimbo said the timing of the defense's move is suspicious since the younger Angara has been panel spokesman since December.
"The bulk of the argument is blood relations. That relation has been there from the beginning. If they suspected it, they should have done so on the onset," he said.
He also said the blood relation angle, if taken seriously, would disqualify other senators who are sitting as judges in the trial.
He said Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is half-brother to San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, who endorsed the impeachment complaint. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is the father of Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, who also endorsed the complaint.
"If this will be the basis, wala nang matitira diyan. It is a political process, not a judicial proceeding," he said.
The younger Angara said the defense is merely sowing intrigue by asking for his father's inhibition in the trial.
He noted: "A vote to inhibit is a vote for acquittal."
MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Tuesday told the defense team of Chief Justice Renato Corona to focus on the impeachment case instead of trying to make Sen. Edgardo Angara inhibit himself in the trial.
In an interview, Enrile said he sees no need for the senator-judge to inhibit himself in the trial even if Angara’s son, Rep. Sonny Angara, is a spokesman of the House prosecution panel.
"Why should he inhibit himself? His son is an adult. He is not a dependent of Senator Angara. Why should there be conflict?" he asked.
The Senate President said that instead of raising technical issues, the defense should focus on disproving the allegations against the Chief Justice.
Prosecution spokesman Erin Tañada earlier said it is unfair to the senator and his son to impute that they are of like minds.
He noted that the younger Angara did not even accept the task of becoming a prosecutor because he knew his father would be a judge in the impeachment trial.
"It's just a desperate move by the defense to impute certain malicious thoughts in the people's minds that both Angaras don't have the independent minds to make certain decisions," he said.
Rep. Miro Quimbo said the timing of the defense's move is suspicious since the younger Angara has been panel spokesman since December.
"The bulk of the argument is blood relations. That relation has been there from the beginning. If they suspected it, they should have done so on the onset," he said.
He also said the blood relation angle, if taken seriously, would disqualify other senators who are sitting as judges in the trial.
He said Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is half-brother to San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, who endorsed the impeachment complaint. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is the father of Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, who also endorsed the complaint.
"If this will be the basis, wala nang matitira diyan. It is a political process, not a judicial proceeding," he said.
The younger Angara said the defense is merely sowing intrigue by asking for his father's inhibition in the trial.
He noted: "A vote to inhibit is a vote for acquittal."
