'No decision yet on appealing verdict on impeachment'

MANILA, Philippines - Defense lawyers of Chief Justice Renato Corona have not formally discussed going to the Supreme Court to appeal if a guilty verdict is rendered by the Senate impeachment court.

Lawyer Rico Quicho, one of the spokespersons of the defense panel, said that news reports that Corona's legal counsels will be elevating the case to the High Court are "purely speculation."

"They (reports) are implying something we are not planning (to do)... We have no formal discussion on the matter," Quicho said in an interview.

He reiterated that defense lawyers will respect the verdict to be handed down this afternoon by the Senate court on their client, whether it is guilty decision or not.

"We will respect the decision," Quicho said, noting that his personal opinion is that any verdict of the Senate court cannot be reviewed or be appealed before the Supreme court.

To convict the Chief Justice, 16 votes are needed or two-thirds of the 23 senator-judges while Corona would need eight votes to be acquitted.

Still in the hospital

Corona will be unable to attend the Senate judgment on the impeachment complaint against him.

Lawyer Karen Jimeno, one of Corona's lawyers, said Corona's physicians at the Medical City have not discharged the Chief Justice from the hospital.

"Baka hindi (makapunta sa Senate). Hindi kasi binigyan ng clearance ng doctor nya," Jimeno said in a phone interview.

She said Corona is no longer required to be present during the voting of the senator-judges.

As of this posting, family members, including grandchildren, are now in Corona's hospital room, waiting for the decision of the Senate impeachment court around 2 p.m.today.

Corona has been confined at the Medical City in Pasig City since last week after his blood sugar fell after his more than three hours of opening statement on the first day of his testimony.