Corona may not be able to testify in his own trial

MANILA — The defense panel may think twice of bringing Chief Justice Renato Corona to the witness stand in his impeachment trial after the Supreme Court maintained that confidential information should not be disclosed by magistrates, court officers and employees.
In a resolution, the Supreme Court said “it cannot waive the privilege that belongs to the Court as an institution, not to any individual Justice, official or employee who may disclose these documents without the Court’s authority.”
“It is this sense that dictated the issuance of this Resolution, as well as the Court’s intense desire to fully be mindful and compliant with the separation of powers that the Constitution mandates for the three branches of government — the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary,” the five-page resolution read.
Corona’s lawyers, however, believe that their client can choose to defend himself before the senator-judges and his accusers from the House of Representatives.
“He is the one charged [with] an impeachable offense, hence, due process requires that he be heard if he feels he needs to testify,” defense spokesperson Tranquil Salvador III told Sun.Star.
Lawyer Ramon Esguerra echoed Salvador’s statement, saying Corona “should not be denied the right to defend himself.”
Lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas said in a television interview last week that Corona should not testify since he could be subjected to grilling by the senators and objections will easily be thrown out.
“I believe this is not good because the members of the impeachment court can examine him on all angles and Justice Cuevas cannot object,” he said.
Earlier, the Court said in its February 14 resolution that the House prosecution panel cannot look into the records of pending cases that cast doubt on the impartiality and integrity of Corona.
Specifically, the Internal Rules of the Supreme Court prohibits the disclosure of the result of the raffle of cases, actions taken by the Court on each case included in the agenda of the en banc session and deliberations on pending cases and administrative matters.
Exempted from the guidelines, meanwhile, are cases and matters classified as public record such as the official appointment of Corona as Chief Justice in May 2010, and the resolution that allowed former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to leave abroad despite being placed under the government watchlist.
“The judicial privilege in the February 14, 2012 SC resolution refers to the internal deliberations and workings of the Court. I believe that the prohibition does not cover the CJ in this case,” Esguerra said in a text message.
Clerk of Court Enriquetta Vidal admitted that she failed to strictly follow the Court’s February 14 resolution after she furnished the Senate impeachment court with documents such as the logbook showing the date and time of Justice Lourdes Sereno’s dissent on the travel clearance given to Arroyo.
While this is considered confidential, Vidal said the document was submitted even before the Court released the guidelines.
Sereno’s dissenting opinion alleged that certain infirmities or irregularities attended the issuance of the temporary restraining order, such as the fact that it was implemented despite the failure of Arroyo to comply with all the conditions before the order could be fully effective. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
Published March 6, 2012

Pampanga is an important province of the Philippines slated to be the next business and tourism center of the country. Already international traffic prefers the Clark International Airport and tourists find Clark Freeport Zone easier to get around than Manila. Safety, low crime rate, no traffic and low pollution levels all contribute to making Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone a preferred destination for local and international tourists.

Highly recommended beach resort in North Luzon for company outings and family retreats is most frequently visited hotel in Clark Pampanga because of beautiful view and good outdoor facilities for swimming, picnic and barbecue.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing day in leisure at famous beach resort in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark enjoy a sense of safety while savoring the laidback lifestyle offered by famous resort hotels like Clearwater in Clark.

Families traveling out of town go to the north to get away from Manila to unwind, relax and swim with friends and children. Highly recommended holiday spot and vacation destination this summer in the north is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark. Clark is adjacent to Pampanga’s Angeles City which is just 70 minutes from Manila and 25 minutes from Subic.

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

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

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While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
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http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

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http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

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