Justices tackle Corona's petition

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) held a special en banc session this afternoon to tackle the petition of its own head, Chief Justice Renato Corona, to stop the impeachment proceedings at the Senate.

The en banc session convened as the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, resumed the trial. The justices started the en banc session on Corona's petition at around 2:30 p.m.

A television news report said that the justices, excluding Corona, will also tackle the petition of the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) against the subpoena issued by the Senate, summoning the records of Corona's supposed dollar accounts allegedly containing $700,000 or at least P30 million.

Hundreds of supporters of the chief magistrate were gathered outside the SC grounds waiting for the outcome of the delibaratios of the justices.

Corona, joined by his wife, Cristina, was also waiting for his colleagues' decision on his petition against the impeachment trial.

Reports said that aside from Corona, Justice Presbiterio Velasco inhibited from the en banc session.

In a 39-page motion, Corona asked the SC to void the impeachment proceedings at the Senate.

Corona also moved to stop the presentation of evidence pertaining to his foreign and peso bank deposits, which the prosecution is keen on presenting in relation to Article 2 on his non-disclosure of statements of assets, liabilities and liability (SALN) from 2002 to 2010.

During yesterday's impeachment trial, the Senate announced that it has denied the motions of Corona and Senator-Judge Miriam Defensor-Santiago to defer the enforcement of the subpoena.

Corona submitted his motion after filing his petition before the SC. He asked the impeachment court to defer the enforcement of the subpoena and wait for the SC's ruling.

With the denial of the motions against the subpoena, the impeachment court called PSBank president Pascual Garcia II to the stand and present documents regarding the subpoenaed bank accounts of Corona.

Garcia only brought with him documents in connection with the five peso bank accounts of Corona. He told the court that he will not reveal the dollar accounts of the chief magistrate as he may be held criminally liable.

He also cited the bank's pending appeal before the SC, which also asked for the issuance of a temporary restraining order on the Senate's subpoena.

Several senators yesterday moved to cite Garcia in contempt for defying the impeachment court's subpoena.

Garcia will return to the witness stand today. He was ordered by the Senate yesterday to submit a written explanation why he refused to bring all the subpoenaed bank documents.