By Harold Hisona

Published: February 15, 2012

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile elucidated that the 13-10 ruling by the senator-judges of the Senate Impeachment Court the other day pertaining to a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court to protect the dollar account of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The presiding officer of the Impeachment Court made the clarification for the public to know that the 13-10 ruling is definitely not an indication of the senate court’s final verdict on the case of Chief Justice.

“No. That is not an indication of anything yet. That was just an issue. So, when we go on the merits, there is a distinction between the merits and decision of interlocutory matters,” said Enrile.

Enrile explained that the voting result in which the majority of the senate favored to heed the Supreme Court’s order is exclusively for the TRO and not for the entire case.

The senate impeachment court presiding officer also challenged the prosecution to prove that the bank documents they presented are not fake.

According to Enrile, it’s a serious responsibility for the prosecution to prove they are not fooling the Senate impeachment court.

“I’m interested to find out whether there is deceit in the request… that is why I asked the prosecution to submit to the court an explanation,” Enrile told the media yesterday.

A witness, in the person of Annabel Tiongson, branch manager of the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), insisted that photocopied bank document attached to a prior subpoena did not come from their bank and therefore, considered it bogus.

During yesterday’s hearing, the prosecution firmly stood up that the bank records they submitted to the Impeachment Court is genuine.

Marikina City Representative Miro Quimbo, lead spokesman of the prosecution, said he guaranteed no irregularities on the evidences they presented to the Senate Court but admitted they cannot assure the document is 100 percent authentic.

Nevertheless, Quimbo stressed it is irrefutable that through these bank documents will pave the way for the truth to reveal. The prosecution is positive that with this evidence, they can prove to the court that CJ Corona’s bank accounts really exist.