Barred by the Senate impeachment court from presenting a witness on Tuesday, the prosecution nevertheless put on record the "privileges" Chief Justice Renato Corona and his wife got from flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).
The prosecution failed to send PAL vice president for sales Enrique Javier to the witness stand after the court insisted his testimony was not covered by any of the eight articles of impeachment against Corona.
Private prosecutor Marlon Manuel manifested in court the contents of documents purportedly showing the trips made by the Corona couple in 2010 and 2011 using their "Platinum cards." Platinum card holders get unlimited PAL flights with first-class seats.
The Corona couple received these privileges from PAL while the airline had cases pending before the Supreme Court, the prosecution claimed. Corana's four trips abroad
The chief justice, according to the prosecution, made four trips abroad using his PAL Platinum card to get roundtrip tickets for his travels abroad: Manila-Guam (April 20, 2011), Guam-Manila (April 24, 2011)
Manila-Singapore (April 15, 2011), Singapore-Manila (April 19, 2011) Manila-Honolulu, Hawaii
(Dec. 25, 2010), Honolulu, Hawaii-Manila (Dec. 30, 2010) Manila-Hong Kong (December 20, 2010,) Hong Kong-Manila (Dec. 21, 2010. Mrs. Corona's foreign and domestic trips
His wife, Cristina Corona, made 12 domestic and foreign trips, the prosecution claimed: Manila-Jakarta, Indonesia (July 10, 2011), Jakarta, Indonesia- Manila (July 15 2011
Manila-Guam (April 20, 2011), Guam-Manila (April 24, 2011) Manila-Singapore (April 15, 2011), Singapore-Manila (April 19, 2011) Manila-Bangkok, Thailand (March 4, 2011), Manila-Bangkok, Thailand (March 7, 2011) Manila-Honolulu, Hawaii (Dec. 25, 2010), Manila-Honolulu, Hawaii (Dec. 30, 2010) Manila-Hongkong (Dec. 18, 2010) Hongkong-Manila (Dec. 21, 2010) Manila-Bacolod (July 28, 2011), Bacolod-Manila (July 28, 2011) Manila-General Santos City (June 3, 2011), General Santos City- Manila (June 4, 2011)
Manila-Cebu (March 18, 2011), Cebu-Manila (March 19, 2011)
Manila-Tagbiliran (March 22 and 24, 2011), Tagbiliran-Manila (March 24, 2011) Manila-General Santos City (March 2, 2011), Manila-General Santos City (March 3, 2011) Manila-Cebu (Feb. 15 and 16, 2011), Cebu-Manila (Feb. 16, 2011). Cuevas objects Lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas raised an objection to the prosecution's manifestation on the flight records and moved that it be stricken off the record.
"The proffer of evidence is proper only when there is a witness on stand," he said, adding that the contents of the PAL documents had no "probative value."
However, Enrile ruled to include the flight records on record.
"Let it remain and [leave it to the] evaluation of members of the court and we will discuss this in due time," Enrile said.
Enrile reminded the prosecution that it was their responsibility to ensure that their evidence should not go beyond the articles of impeachment.
Despite allowing the manifestation to stay, Enrile voiced his opposition to the presentation of PAL’s Javier as witness.
"You are offering some stranger in paradise to prove an allegation that does not exist in Article III," Enrile said. Not in impeachment articles
Defense counsel and spokesman Tranquil Salvador III welcomed the ruling.
"Makikita niyo na wala [sa Articles of Impeachment] ang sinasabi nilang plane tickets na sinsasabi nilang maaaring nakinabang ang mga Corona," saidSalvador.
"Makikita natin na maliwanag ang tinatayuan ng ating impeachment court, na ang Article III... ayaw nila lumawak ang hindi nakasaad sa Article III," he added.
Enrile's move may have been the presiding officer’s way of acknowledging that the verified impeachment complaint is peppered with "infirmities," Salvador noted.
"Sinasabi niya [Enrile] na ngayon, tama na. Hanggang dito na lang kayo. Pinagbigyan ko na kayo dati," Salvador said. The Senate has allowed the prosecution to present evidence under Paragraph 2.3 of Article II for fear that the public might accuse the court of "hiding the truth," the defense counsel added.
Paragraph 2.3 of Article II deals with Corona's supposed failure to declare properties in his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth.
The succeeding
Paragraph
2.4 was earlier stricken off, preventing prosecution from presenting evidence on allegations that Corona had acquired ill-gotten wealth while in office.
— VS/HS, GMA News
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