Prosecution asks Sereno to appear in Corona trial

MANILA — The prosecution panel yesterday formally invited Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to attend the Senate impeachment trial and testify against Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, lead prosecutor in the Article 7 of the impeachment complaint, said they are asking Sereno to appear before the impeachment court on March 1.

“Sinabi namin the difficult situation you’re ( Sereno) in but in the interest of resolving the impeachment court whether or not naging bias si Chief Justice in the issue of the TRO ( temporary restraining order),” Colmenares said.

In the one- page letter to Sereno, the congressman asked Sereno to “testify on your dissenting opinion including the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the TRO ( temporary restraining order) in favor of former President Gloria Arroyo and the suppression of the promulgation of your dissenting opinion originally submitted on December 2, 2011.”

The prosecution had decided against its initial plan to invite Sereno to testify at the Senate impeachment court, as they were hoping that the court itself will subpoena the magistrate.

The Senate, however, yesterday reiterated that it will not invite Sereno or any members of a co- equal branch of government to the trial.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, presiding judge of the impeachment court, suggested that the prosecution panel invite Sereno to the trial instead of compelling the Senate to use its compulsory powers on the magistrate.

Colmenares told Sereno in his letter, “we believe that your testimony will help the impeachment court in arriving at a conclusion on the issues... in relation to charges that the Chief Justice acted with partiality and bias in the issuance of the TRO in favor of former Pres. Arroyo...”

“We understand the difficult position that you are in and we will strive to do our best to protect your rights and dignity during your presentation,” Colmenares said in his letter.

Enrile, meanwhile, told reporters at the Senate that Sereno will be treated with “deference” by the senators. He said that Sereno will be asked questions “in a cordial and courteous manner.”

He said that the defense may attempt to attack the credibility of Sereno as a witness if she decides to take the witness stand on March 1.

“Sa trial, wala kasing sinisino eh. Maski nasa prosecution ka or defense. Maski na pari. Minsan we crossexamine the priest who was testifying in a criminal case,” Enrile added.

The senator welcomed the possibility of Sereno testifying in the trial. He said that he himself would want to hear Sereno’s testimony on the prosecution’s allegation against Corona. (Philippine STAR News Service)