House panel won’t replace Tupas as lead counsel

THE prosecution panel will neither replace Rep. Neil Tupas of Iloilo as lead counsel nor implement a reshuffle, according to Deputy Speaker Erin Tanada.

“It is not our priority because we still enjoy the trust of 188 congressmen who signed the Articles of Impeachment,” Tanada said in response to the mounting call to replace Tupas who observers said had not been performing well.

Tupas came under fire because of several “blunders” committed by the prosecution, the latest of which was the admission that the panel has no evidence to prove its earlier claim that chief Justice Renato Corona has 45 pieces of property.

Tanada however took up the cudgels for Tupas, saying each member of the House panel has an assignment.

The names of Representatives Neri Colmenares, Kaka Bag-ao and Rodolfo Farinas have been floated as possible replacement of Tupas.

Last Thursday, Tupas said the claim that the Chief Justice acquired 45 houses, condo units and parking spaces did not come from their camp.

However, reporters said it was Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, one of the panel’s spokesmen, who showed a document showing a list of Corona’s alleged assets.

Tanada admitted that he was present when that announcement was made in the media but Tupas was not.

The House panel has received some drubbing from senators over a number of blunders, such as the cross-examination of a prosecution witness, and for insisting on presenting evidence to prove that the Chief Justice amassed ill- gotten wealth when the Senate impeachment court has ruled that it will not accept evidence or testimony along that line. Sammy Martin