MANILA, Philippines \u2014 The prosecution panel decided to drop Articles 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8 of the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato C. Corona as it formally ended its presentation of evidence Tuesday.
\nRep. Neil Tupas Jr., head of the House prosecutors, told the impeachment court that the prosecution panel was ending the presentation of evidence although it had earlier sent an official invitation to Supreme Court (SC) Justice Ma. Lourdes P. Sereno to appear and testify at the trial. Tupas said the prosecution panel believes it has presented a strong case against the Chief Justice and will stand or fall on Articles 2, 3 and 7.
\nSenate President Juan Ponce Enrile immediately ordered Tupas to submit a formal motion dropping and withdrawing Articles 1, 4,5, 6, and 8 without further reception of evidence.
\nCorona\u2019s lawyers welcomed the move of the House prosecution panel to rest their case against the chief magistrate.
\nRamon Esguerra, former Justice undersecretary and a lawyer of the defense, said the defense panel is ready to defend the Chief Justice and rebut the allegations hurled against him.
\n\u201cThe defense is ready from Day 1 as shown by what Chief Justice stated in his answer to the complaint,\u201d Esguerra said.
\n\u201cWe have witnesses for all the articles (Articles 2, 3, and 7). We are likely to present evidence even on the other five (5) articles,\u201d added Esguerra.
\nIn a letter signed by Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Neri Colmenares, the House prosecution panel wanted Sereno to appear and testify on March 1 in connection with her dissenting opinion on the SC\u2019s Nov. 15, 2011 resolution that granted the temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo against the watch list order (WLO) issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
\nHowever, a resolution issued by the SC on Feb. 14, 2012 disallows any High Court official or employee from appearing before the trial unless given a waiver.
\n\u201cIf we are going to follow the SC resolution on February 14, 2012, it is clearly stated that the judicial privilege belongs to the court, so therefore, it is the court that can waive the privilege,\u201d said SC Spokesman and Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez.
\n\u201cIf there should be a waiver, the waiver should come from the court and that waiver can only be issued if the issue is brought before the court,\u201d he said.
\nThe letter of invitation to appear before the trial was delivered personally by lawyer Ma. Cristina Yambot, one of the private prosecutors in the impeachment trial, to the office of Justice Sereno.
\nIt stated: \u201cYour testimony will help the impeachment court in arriving at a conclusion on the issues above-mentioned in relation to the charges that the Chief Justice acted with partiality and bias in the issuance of the TRO in favor of former President Arroyo in the consolidated case of \u2018Gloria and Miguel Arroyo vs. De Lima\u2019.\u201d
\nCiting Sereno\u2019s dissenting opinion, De Lima had earlier testified before the impeachment court and pointed out alleged \u201cinfirmities\u201d and \u201cirregularities\u201d in the issuance of the TRO in favor of Mrs. Arroyo.
\nAsked whether or not Sereno would accept the invitation to appear as witness, Marquez said: \u201cWe will leave that to Justice Sereno. I have not spoken to Justice Sereno. I do not know her thoughts on that.\u201d
\n\u201cIf and when she (Justice Sereno) attends, she will have her reasons, and so we will leave it up to her,\u201d he said.
\nAsked if there would be a violation of the February 14, 2012 resolution should Justice Sereno present herself as a witness before the impeachment court, Marquez said: \u201cIf there is a clear violation, then that court official will be answerable to the court.\u201d
\nIn Malaca\u00f1ang, President Benigno S. Aquino III was counting on other court employees to testify in the impeachment trial.
\nAquino said earlier Tuesday court employees, unlike SC justices, could be invited to the trial of Corona without violating the principle of co-equal branches of government.
\nAquino declined to comment on whether Sereno should defy the Supreme Court\u2019s internal rules and testify in the trial of Corona. \u201cI don\u2019t want to comment on that. If she testifies, they will say I ordered her to do so. There is no correct answer to that question right now,\u201d he said.
\nThe Senate impeachment court recently ruled it would not subpoena Sereno to appear as a prosecution witness to avoid a collision course with the judiciary, a co-equal branch of government.
\nBut Enrile said he still wants to hear Sereno\u2019s testimony.
\nEnrile, in an interview, said the impeachment body will treat Sereno with deference if she agrees to be a witness to the impeachment trial.
\nWhen asked if Sereno\u2019s dissenting opinion would pass as an evidence for the prosecution, Enrile said it will be only to the extent of what Sereno only has personal knowledge of.
\n\u201cOnly to the extent of kung ano yung alam ni Justice Sereno dun. Yung actual knowledge niya. We will take the dissenting opinion at face value. The defense can introduce evidence that the dissenting opinion is not true,\u201d he said.
\nBut Enrile said the Senate will not interfere with the Supreme Court if it invokes its judicial privilege even when Justice Sereno agrees to testify.
\nThe prosecution believes Sereno can shed light on the perceived partiality of Corona towards Arroyo in past SC decisions, particularly the issuance of the TRO on DOJ\u2019s order to prevent her from traveling abroad.
\nDuring her time at the witness stand, De Lima cited Sereno\u2019s opinion that the SC issued the TRO despite the failure of Mrs. Arroyo to comply with the conditions stipulated in the restraining order.
\nMeanwhile, Corona\u2019s defense team has filed a motion to expunge from court records all details on the bank accounts that were submitted by Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) officials at the impeachment trial.
\nFormer Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas said they filed the motion to suppress illegally obtained evidence, referring to \u201call evidence thus far offered, received, marked and proposed in relation to the subpoena it issued last February 6 and 9 addressed to Annabelle Tiongson, PS Bank Katipunan branch manager.\u201d
\n\u201cThis motion is founded on the constitutional guarantee against unlawful searches and seizure, and the protection for the individual who has already suffered an unlawful search which is found in the exclusionary rule,\u201d the defense panel stated in their 33-page motion to suppress, exclude and expunge the evidence from the record.
\nTiongson had earlier been called to testify before the court on Article 2 of the impeachment complaint which accuses Corona for \u201cbetrayal of public trust\u201d for failing to disclose to the public his statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN).
\nCorona\u2019s lawyers argued that the testimonies of the representatives of PSBank will confirm that the documents submitted by the prosecution are not copies of the documents of the bank.
\n\u201cIndeed, in the course of the trial, it became clear that the documents were spurious. Neither Congressman (Reynaldo) Umali nor (Jorge) Banal could provide a credible source or origin of the document,\u201d they said.
\nEarlier, Umali (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro) told the court \u201ca small lady\u201d offered to him pieces of evidences which pertains to Corona\u2019s account deposits with PS Bank which also included dollar accounts.
\nBanal (3rd District, Quezon City), on the other hand, said he came across an envelope which he found in his garage which purportedly contains the same alleged copies of Corona\u2019s bank records.
\nhttp:\/\/www.mb.com.ph\/articles\/352777\/prosecution-drops-5-impeach-articles<\/p>\n
Each year in February the Philippines hot air balloon festival returns to Clark Pampanga. Visitors planning to attend this popular event in Clark opt to stay in Clearwater Resort which is considered to be the best hotel in Clark Philippines. This hotel in Clark is also a favorite holiday destination near Manila during Holy Week, Easter, Christmas and New Year holidays also. This hotel in Clark is also one of the best resorts near Manila for families to relax, unwind and enjoy the outdoor facilities of this popular resort in Clark Philippines. Even during school breaks, families would take their children to enjoy the outdoor facilities of this popular resort in Pampanga which is located quite near to Manila. <\/p>\n
This Pampanga resort hotel is different from other hotels in Clark Philippines or hotel in Angeles City. This Clark Hotel has large outdoor space for children to play and adults to enjoy some peace and quiet in the picnic grounds near the lake. Guests like the Hotel\u2019s caf\u00e9 breakfast garden which serves the best breakfast in Pampanga. Clearwater Resort has nice ambience and wide space, much better than the other hotels in Angeles City and Manila Philippines. <\/p>\n
Many guests like staying at Clearwater Family Inn Hotel Room in the picnic grounds of this resort in Clark Pampanga. Some like the trees in the resort camping grounds of this place of leisure. One can stay in other hotels in Angeles City but it is not often one finds amenities and ambience like Clark, not like Clearwater Resort in Angeles City Philippines.<\/p>\n
Clearwater is a highly recommended place of leisure and a most frequently visited hotel resort in Pampanga. This Clark hotel is a famous private resort outside Manila for corporate planning because of its exclusivity. Although the function rooms for planning and meetings are simple and basic, the surrounding gardens and ambience more than make up for what it lacks in lavish interior decoration. Clark is home to some of the best golf courses in Pampanga. Although golf continues to be one of the reasons why visitors from Manila travel to Pampanga, residents of Angeles City, Subic and Bulacan travel to Clark not just to play golf in one of the best golf courses in Pampanga but also to relax and unwind in the best resort in Philippines.<\/p>\n
Those who are lucky enough to get a room at this lake resort in Clark Philippines will be able to enjoy the magical sunrise across the lake of Clearwater Resort at dawn. This is the only hotel in Clark Pampanga that guests can really enjoy viewing sunrise.<\/p>\n
For reservations, comments and inquiries, <\/p>\n
Clearwater Resort & Country Club
\nCreekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
\nCentral Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
\nPampanga, Philippines 2023<\/p>\n
Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177<\/p>\n
Manila Sales Office
\n3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
\nExchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
\n(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com<\/p>\n
Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com<\/p>\n
Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
\nAfter entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark\u2019s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark\u2019s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.<\/p>\n
For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now<\/a><\/p>\n Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com<\/a><\/p>\n While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http:\/\/www.YatsRestaurant.com<\/a><\/p>\n YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http:\/\/www.YatsLeisure.com<\/a><\/p>\n While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges. Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.LondonPubClark.com<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.ClarkPhilippines.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.ClarkWineCenter.com<\/a><\/p>\n