House majority won't replace Tupas

MANILA, Philippines - A leader of the House of Representatives rejected yesterday calls to have Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. replaced as head of the prosecution panel, saying a majority of the chamber is still satisfied with his performance in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona at the Senate.

“It is a matter of fine-tuning who will argue the case or improve their division of labor in presenting evidence or witnesses in the different Articles of Impeachment,” House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II told The STAR.

Gonzales was reacting to suggestions from opposition lawmakers to have Tupas replaced as lead prosecutor after being repeatedly scolded by the senator-judges for his lapses. Even the public has already begun to take notice of his slips.

“This (leadership issue in the prosecution panel) can be easily resolved internally within the panel,” he said.

Gonzales noted, “so many lawyers will pale in comparison when faced by him (lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas)” because the Supreme Court justice has a long experience in the legal profession and is an acknowledged expert on various legal issues.

The lawmakers suggested that Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, former minority leader, be named a replacement.

“You know when that case was finally endorsed to the Senate, I stood up and said, you better read on the Articles of Impeachment. But they said, no need to read because you can file it immediately,” Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua said.

Fua explained that the change in prosecution leadership is possible but replacing Tupas would also mean that the prosecution panel admits that the Iloilo representative failed in leading the 11 prosecutors.

“We can ask for a change of the leadership in the prosecution but that depends on the majority of the House who might object to his replacement,” he explained.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said the prosecution panel is now “reduced to a mere damage control machinery after every trial day, whining to the press about the technicalities that delay the proceedings.”

Suarez added, “We are not amused, we all know that the delay is caused by the ill, bordering on non-preparation of the prosecution.”