Corona lawyer: Don’t belittle objection to ‘unverified’ complaint

Tuesday, January 17, 2012
MANILA–Chief Justice Renato Corona’s critics cannot dismiss his protest of what he considers an invalid impeachment complaint as just a delaying tactic, one of his lawyers said Monday afternoon. His objection is rooted in the Constitution, and not something plucked from the air, lawyer Dennis Manalo told reporters during the run-up to the impeachment trial scheduled later that day.
“This is not something we just made up. It is in the Constitution,” he said, referring to Corona’s motion to have the complaint thrown out for not being “verified,” and therefore, invalid. Corona’s lawyers contend that under Article XI, Section 3 requires a complaints must be verified before it can be filed and then brought to the House in plenary.
The Chief Justice’s lawyers have said that means signatories should have studied the complaint beforehand.
In their motion asking for a preliminary hearing, they cited the Supreme Court’s decision in Lambino v. Commission on Elections, where 6.3 signatures allegedly in support of a “people’s initiative” petition in 2006 to amend the Constitution, were voided. “With only 100,000 printed copies of the petition, it would be physically impossible for all, or a great majority of the 6.3 million signatories to have seen the petition before they signed the signature sheets,” the Supreme Court ruled then.
He said lawmakers who signed the complaint did not get to read, and therefore verify, the complaint, and that that makes the proceedings that impeached him in December invalid.
Prosecutors have called the motion a dilatory tactic, however, saying parties in the House majority had been given copies beforehand, and that there were “numerous” copies for the lawmakers to read at a majority caucus where the complaint was discussed. Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. has also said the complaint had more than the required one-third of the House membership to be immediately transmitted to the Senate. In their reply to Corona’s motion, they said that even if some lawmakers were unable to study the complaint, they are outnumbered by those who did.
“This is not some shallow protest. This is not just speculation and supposition,” Manalo said in Filipino. (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2012/01/16/corona-lawyer-dont-belittle-objection-unverified-complaint-200819

Place to go during Holy Week in Philippines is Clearwater Resort in Clark Pampanga near Manila where there are plenty of things to do during Easter Holidays and throughout the whole summer too.

Manila residents, local and foreign tourists visiting Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines frequently visit the famous lake of Clark Freeport to unwind and relax. Families with children organize reunion and retreat in the famous Clearwater Resort.

Travel groups highly recommend Clark Pampanga as safe and clean vacation destination in Philippines. Best private resort in Pampanga is Clearwater, a 13-hectare lake property, child friendly with beach, picnic grounds and small number of cottages. Today, Clark is no longer just a golfer’s paradise, it appears to tourists and visitors who are not just interested to play golf in one of the best golf courses in Pampanga.

Frequently visited private resort in Manila is Clearwater, highly recommended by travel guide for residents of Manila, local and foreign tourists visiting Clark Pampanga for day trip or overnight stay. Parents enjoy a good round of golf in one of the best golf courses in Pampanga while children enjoy the outdoor picnic facilities of the best hotel near Manila, Philippines.

Popular beach resort in North Luzon for company outings and family retreats during Holy Week and Easter Holidays this year is Clearwater located in the safe and convenient destination of Pampanga Clark Philippines just 70 minutes from Manila.

Quiet place for rest and relaxation near Manila, in Subic, Angeles City Pampanga and Clark Philippines is something that residents of Manila travelling to the north for a short getaway are looking for.

For reservations, comments and inquiries,

Clearwater Resort & Country Club
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com