By Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines - “Is this martial law?”
Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia Jr. recalled the question being posed by an angry Cristina Corona when he and Senate security personnel prevented her husband, Chief Justice Renato Corona, from leaving the Senate premises last Tuesday afternoon.
Interviewed by media yesterday, Balajadia bared his unpleasant encounter with the couple apparently to disprove the claim of Corona’s lawyers that the Chief Justice was not leaving but only went out of the session hall to take his medicine and “attend to personal necessities.”
Balajadia related his encounter with Corona and his wife, who were being escorted by Supreme Court (SC) security personnel when Senate security men caught up with them at the exit near the senators’ executive lounge.
“He (Corona) literally looked down at me because he was tall. He asked me, ‘are you arresting me?’ Then I told him, ‘you know very well that in any court of law, the judge can order; the order was to prevent you from leaving,” Balajadia said.
But Mrs. Corona butted in, asking him if it was martial law.
“Siempre medyo masama pakiramdam ko sa ganoong salita kasi galing tayo sa (Of course I felt rather bad when I heard those words because we came from) martial law,” Balajadia said.
It was at this point that Balajadia turned his attention to the security personnel of the Senate who engaged the SC security men in a tug-of-war as Corona and his wife tried to board the elevator leading to the basement parking area.
On orders of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Balajadia caught up with the Corona couple near the back of the session hall, going towards to the exit exclusively used by senators and VIPs.
He said he just directed his men to bring back the Chief Justice to the session hall where the impeachment trial was being held.
Corona was later placed in a wheelchair then brought to the Senate clinic before the Chief Justice finally returned to the session hall.
Corona’s lead counsel Serafin Cuevas even reiterated yesterday that Corona was indeed not feeling well last Tuesday afternoon.
Cuevas even manifested before the impeachment court that they should first investigate before casting doubt on the real health condition of the Chief Justice.
“Our impediment is not really personal, really medical. We apologize to the court for all this, we never anticipated all these things,” Cuevas told the court yesterday.
“In connection with the alleged walkout, I wanted to adhere to the rule to investigate first before condemning,” he said.
Not amused, Enrile told Cuevas to “please concern yourself with the matter at hand, don’t digress.”
Cuevas had told the court that Corona remained sedated until Wednesday morning, which prevented lawyers from having a conference with him.
Nonetheless, Enrile granted Cuevas’ appeal to allow his client more time until he recovers to be able to return to the witness stand.
The Senate gave Corona 48 hours – or until 2 p.m. on Friday – to return otherwise the court would wrap up its trial and come out with the verdict next week.
In an interview after the trial, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said he would like to hear Corona’s reasons before passing judgment on his health condition.
“Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Baka naman talagang may sakit. Hindi ka naman pupunta sa (Maybe he’s really sick. You wouldn’t go to the) ICU (intensive care unit) kung hindi naman malubha ang sakit mo (if you weren’t seriously ill),” Estrada said.
“We still have to wait for the reason of the defense why Chief Justice is not here. We have to wait for the medical bulletin on the condition of the Chief Justice,” Estrada added.
Estrada said the Senate president is keen on issuing a verdict by Monday or Tuesday next week after both defense and prosecution panels deliver their final oral arguments.
MANILA, Philippines - “Is this martial law?”
Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia Jr. recalled the question being posed by an angry Cristina Corona when he and Senate security personnel prevented her husband, Chief Justice Renato Corona, from leaving the Senate premises last Tuesday afternoon.
Interviewed by media yesterday, Balajadia bared his unpleasant encounter with the couple apparently to disprove the claim of Corona’s lawyers that the Chief Justice was not leaving but only went out of the session hall to take his medicine and “attend to personal necessities.”
Balajadia related his encounter with Corona and his wife, who were being escorted by Supreme Court (SC) security personnel when Senate security men caught up with them at the exit near the senators’ executive lounge.
“He (Corona) literally looked down at me because he was tall. He asked me, ‘are you arresting me?’ Then I told him, ‘you know very well that in any court of law, the judge can order; the order was to prevent you from leaving,” Balajadia said.
But Mrs. Corona butted in, asking him if it was martial law.
“Siempre medyo masama pakiramdam ko sa ganoong salita kasi galing tayo sa (Of course I felt rather bad when I heard those words because we came from) martial law,” Balajadia said.
It was at this point that Balajadia turned his attention to the security personnel of the Senate who engaged the SC security men in a tug-of-war as Corona and his wife tried to board the elevator leading to the basement parking area.
On orders of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Balajadia caught up with the Corona couple near the back of the session hall, going towards to the exit exclusively used by senators and VIPs.
He said he just directed his men to bring back the Chief Justice to the session hall where the impeachment trial was being held.
Corona was later placed in a wheelchair then brought to the Senate clinic before the Chief Justice finally returned to the session hall.
Corona’s lead counsel Serafin Cuevas even reiterated yesterday that Corona was indeed not feeling well last Tuesday afternoon.
Cuevas even manifested before the impeachment court that they should first investigate before casting doubt on the real health condition of the Chief Justice.
“Our impediment is not really personal, really medical. We apologize to the court for all this, we never anticipated all these things,” Cuevas told the court yesterday.
“In connection with the alleged walkout, I wanted to adhere to the rule to investigate first before condemning,” he said.
Not amused, Enrile told Cuevas to “please concern yourself with the matter at hand, don’t digress.”
Cuevas had told the court that Corona remained sedated until Wednesday morning, which prevented lawyers from having a conference with him.
Nonetheless, Enrile granted Cuevas’ appeal to allow his client more time until he recovers to be able to return to the witness stand.
The Senate gave Corona 48 hours – or until 2 p.m. on Friday – to return otherwise the court would wrap up its trial and come out with the verdict next week.
In an interview after the trial, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said he would like to hear Corona’s reasons before passing judgment on his health condition.
“Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Baka naman talagang may sakit. Hindi ka naman pupunta sa (Maybe he’s really sick. You wouldn’t go to the) ICU (intensive care unit) kung hindi naman malubha ang sakit mo (if you weren’t seriously ill),” Estrada said.
“We still have to wait for the reason of the defense why Chief Justice is not here. We have to wait for the medical bulletin on the condition of the Chief Justice,” Estrada added.
Estrada said the Senate president is keen on issuing a verdict by Monday or Tuesday next week after both defense and prosecution panels deliver their final oral arguments.
