Lawyer: House exposé just "tip of the iceberg"

CEBU, Philippines - A Cebuano lawyer who is among the volunteers of the House panel that will prosecute Chief Justice Renato Corona before the Senate impeachment trial said yesterday that they have more than enough evidence to convict the chief magistrate.

Lawyer Aristotle Batuhan said that the evidence that were already made public by the House panel regarding the supposed condominium units of Corona were just “tip of the iceberg.”

Batuhan is among the volunteer lawyers and the only Cebuano that compose one of the teams created to help prosecute the eight articles of impeachment filed against Corona.

He however did not anymore elaborate what are the other evidence they have on hand. Batuhan personally believes that it is better to have them presented before the proper forum.

“Corona’s plummeting trust and approval ratings indicate that the public believes in the process of impeaching him and are convinced that he is unfit to hold the position of Chief Justice and therefore want him impeached,” Batuhan said.

They could not however state with certainty that Corona will be convicted considering that impeachment is a political process and the numbers are important in the Senate.

The ruling Liberal Party only has four members in the Senate which is way below the needed 16 votes to secure conviction. Corona on the other hand needs seven votes to be acquitted.

Aside from the LP senators—Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Franklin Drilon and Teofisto “TG” Guigona, five other senators are perceived allies of the administration and are likely to vote with the LP.

The administration allied senators are Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, Antonio Trillianes IV, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, Jr. and Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero.

Five senators are Nacionalista Party members—Allan Peter Cayetano, Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., Manuel Villar and Loren Legarda. There are also six considered independents— Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Juan Ponce Enrile, Gringo Honasan and Jinggoy Estrada, Edgardo Angara and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Batuhan admitted that they cannot be sure with the Nacionalista members and the independent senators. Three other senators who are members of Lakas Party— Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., Manuel “Lito” Lapid and Joker Arroyo are already counted to vote for acquittal.

“We do not have any idea as to how these senators will vote. The impeachment is a political process and all we can do is to substantiate the Articles of Impeachment against the Chief Justice and for the impeachment senators to appreciate the evidences that will be presented,” Batuhan added.

Meanwhile, Batuhan said that the members of the House prosecution panel and its volunteer lawyers are calling for the resignation of the Supreme Court administrator and spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez.

Batuhan said Marquez is already acting as personal spokesperson of Corona rather than being a spokesman of the high tribunal.

“He should shut up or ship out.  Midas Marquez is the administrator and spokesperson of the Supreme Court and not the Chief Justice.  His salary is paid for by taxpayers not to defend Corona but defend the institution. If he wants to continue to speak for and defend Corona, he should immediately resign,” he said.

Marquez has been speaking on behalf of Corona which Batuhan believes is improper because he is the spokesman of the Supreme Court.

Corona’s impeachment trial is scheduled to begin on Monday. Batuhan said they expect it to last for three to five months. — (FREEMAN)