| Senate starts impeachment trial Posted on January 16, 2012 03:17:42 PM THE SENATE has formally begun on Monday the impeachment trial against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. Mr. Corona arrived at the Senate early, accompanied by his wife, Cristina, and his two children. The senator-judges entered the session hall at past 2 pm Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who sits as presiding officer, formally started the proceedings. "We convene as a body as jurors to try and render judgment on the chief justice of the Supreme Court filed at the Senate by 188 members of the House of Representatives.," Mr. Enrile said in his opening speech. "The task at hand is a constitutional mandate and duty, which we have no reason to delay," he continued. Former Chief Justice Serafin Cuevas, who heads Mr. Corona's defense panel, was the first to take the stand to give an opening speech. He stressed Mr. Corona's stand that 'he is not guilty', and that the embattled chief justice was denied of due process. Mr. Cuevas explained that an impeachment complaint must be verified and there must be determination of probable cause prior to its signing the complain. He claimed that since the Chief Justice wasn't informed and was not given notice and proper preliminary hearing, he is therefore denied due process. "Due process is not only required by law, but also by the Constitution. [The Chief Justice] is therefore entitled to due process; he is entitled to notice and [preliminary] hearing," Mr ... |
