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SENATORS on Thursday warned impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona not to play with technicalities when he testifies on Tuesday.
Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Francis Escudero, Panfilo Lacson and Franklin Drilon called on Corona to steer clear of technicalities when he takes the stand because they want to hear his defense on the allegations hurled against him.
Estrada and Escudero said that these technicalities could be in the form of the defendant’s “right against self-incrimination” in which he could not be forced to testify against himself and the bank secrecy laws.
The two senators said that although Corona can invoke such rights, it could be viewed by the senators as his refusal to uncover the truth and will consequently affect their judgment.
“Magmumukha lang na guilty si Corona kapag ginawa niya ‘yun [Corona will look guilty if he invoked his right against self-incrimination],” they said.
Lacson said that Corona’s much-awaited testimony would be useless if he fails to give truthful explanations on his reported dollar accounts.
“Mawawala lang ng saysay ang kaniyang pagharap sa trial kung hindi nito maipapaliwanag ang kaniyang mga dollar accounts dahil sa [his testimony will be useless if he failed to explain his dollar accounts because of] bank secrecy law,” he added.
But in case Corona will refuse to answer the clarificatory-questions of senators by invoking such right, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said that the Chief Justice’s demeanor will tell a lot.
“Lawyers have a technical term — demeanor of the witness. Madalas sabihin ng Supreme Court, hindi basta dapat baligtarin ang panghuhusga ng isang trial judge, dahil ‘yung trial judge ay kita ‘yung [The Supreme Court always says that the decision of a trial judge should not be easily overruled because he sees the] demeanor of the witness,” he added.
Cayetano also said that Corona’s testimony will determine the outcome of the impeachment trial.
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago described the appearance of Corona as the climax of the impeachment trial.
The senators vowed to give the Chief Justice all due respect when he appears at the Senate.
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NEWS FEED: Senators warn Corona: Don’t hide behind technicalities - 18 May 2012
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