CJ to definitely return to Senate today

 MANILA, Philippines - Another lawyer for Chief Justice Renato Corona on Friday assured the public that Corona will definitely return to the Senate this afternoon. 

Tranquil Salvador III, a member of Corona's defense panel, said in an ANC interview that despite Corona's return to the witness stand he sees no possibility of extending the trial beyond the Tuesday deadline set by Senate President and Presiding Officer Juan Ponce Enrile.

Enrile has ruled that the court will issue a decision on Corona's impeachment after the closing arguments of the prosecution and the defense Monday next week.

Corona was rushed to the Medical City in Pasig on Tuesday evening following his more than three hours of statement at the Senate impeachment court. A diabetic, Corona, doctors, said suffered from hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. At the hospital Corona was moved to the intensive care unit owing to fears of a possible heart attack.

Defense lead counsel Serafin Cuevas, however, told reporters on Thursday that he convinced Corona to return to the Senate this afternoon. 

A television report, meanwhile, said Corona will be discharged by the hospital at 12 noon. He will be accompanied to the Senate by a team of doctors and nurses. An ambulance will bring Corona from Pasig to the Senate in Pasay City.

Midas Marquez, Supreme Court spokesman, said Corona is bent on proving that he respects the Senate, as a co-equal branch of the government, and the Senate impeachment court.

The Medical City said it will no longer issue another medical bulletin for Corona but the Chief Justice is till considered a high-risk patient and should avoid any stressful situation owing to his medical history. Corona has undergone two heart bypass operations in 1998 and 2005.

Meanwhile, Rep. Niel Tupas, lead prosecutor, said Corona's statement and actions last Tuesday were "scripted".

Tupas also dimissed Corona's challenge for him and 188 others to sign a waiver to allow the disclosure of their assets, particularly their foreign currency accounts.

Tupas said he does not need to sign a waiver because he declares all his assets and properties in his statement of assets, liabilities and networth.

The Senate on Friday said it will be implementing a new security arrangement for Corona.

The Office of the Senate sergeant-at-arms said Corona will no longer be using the narrow, backdoor stairs going to the second floor of the Senate building when he returns this afternoon to continue his testimony.

Instead, the new arrangement will require the Chief Justice, his security escorts and medical personnel to use the elevator, a radio report said.

Senate security personnel will also block members of the media who would try to interview Corona, who is expected to be wheeled into the Senate building, the report added.

The way leading to the session hall will also be cordoned off to block reporters, photo journalists and other members of TV crew, it said.

The Senate medical staff will be on stand-by to provide any medical assistance to the Chief Justice. - Cheryl M. Arcibal and Dennis Carcamo