MANILA (Jan. 16, 2012) – All eyes are on the Senate today as the political process that will either oust or vindicate Chief Justice Renato Corona starts.

Like a popular telenovela, the impeachment trial of the country’s highest magistrate will surely be closely followed by Filipinos, whose interest in the case had been heightened with the juicy tidbits of “evidence” presented by the prosecution in the past several days regarding Corona’s allegedly vast wealth.

The Chief Justice attended the first day of his trial even if he is not required to.

But his lead counsel, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, will likely enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.

The senators, resplendent in their new maroon robes made especially for the occasion, will sit as judges in this spectacle that will also be watched around the world.

The Senate had allowed five television networks to cover the proceedings at the plenary hall, and granted accreditation to more than 1,000 media personnel.

Millions of viewers will likely be glued to their television sets since the trial will be carried live by local television stations and with on-line live streaming.

The public can watch the trial from the gallery, but only 150 passes will be issued on a first- come, first-served basis daily.

The Senate has already put in place security measures to make sure that the trial will be safe and orderly.

Today, the senators will likely tackle Corona’s motion for a preliminary hearing.

Not afraid
Cuevas said that the Chief Justice was present in today’s proceedings to show that he is not afraid to face the charges against him.

Under the Senate rules on impeachment, the trial can commence even with Corona absent.

The Chief Justice’s attendance is also proof that he respects the Senate as an impeachment court, Cuevas said.

Corona, however, will likely sit quietly and let his lawyer enter a “not guilty” plea on his behalf.

“We do not have the burden of proving Corona’s innocence. It is the burden of the prosecution to prove Corona’s guilt,” Cuevas said.

Other players in the trial include the 23 senators, who will be acting as judges and the 11 members of the House of Representatives, who will prosecute Corona and will present evidence to prove the eight charges they leveled against the Chief Justice.

Corona is accused of committing high crimes such as graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

Senate Majority Vicente Sotto 3rd on Sunday said that they will have a regular session at 9 a.m. after which a caucus will be held to discuss all concerns and issues about the impeachment process.

Sotto added that all the four motions filed by the prosecution and defense panels before the Senate impeachment court will be discussed during the caucus, which may also tackle the prosecution’s request to subpoena Corona and his family.

Senators may also take up the defense’s petition to summon House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and other members of the House of Representatives to explain how the impeachment complaint was approved.

If the senator-judges grant Corona’s petition for a preliminary hearing, the trial proper would be set aside and the defense team will be the first to present evidence and witnesses to prove that the impeachment complaint is defective.

If the senator-judges deny the petition, the impeachment court will proceed with the actual trial, wherein the prosecution will enumerate their evidence against Corona.

Sotto said that after Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who will be the presiding officer, formally opens the court in the afternoon, each side will be given 10 minutes to deliver an opening statement, laying out their primary arguments in the case.

“We will hear from the side of prosecutors and defense for any manifestation,” Sotto said during a radio interview over dzBB.

The majority leader expressed belief that the Senate could finish the Corona impeachment trial by March 23 or before Congress takes its break for the Holy Week. (Manila Times)