How can now one trust the leaders of this land when impeachment prosecution lawyers, no less than Congressmen, Representatives of the people use fake documents in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. In today’s proceedings, the branch manager of Katipunan Branch of PSBank stated under oath that the document presented by the prosecutors and used to subpoena bank documents is a fake. This cast doubt on the extent that the prosecution would go to prosecute the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
The branch manager was elusive in answering questions and often requested guidance of counsel under the direct examination of Presiding Judge, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. The witness further stated that the BSP conducted an audit examination of the PSB branch where the same documents were kept. PSBank President also testified that the document attached to the subpoena which was presented to him also seemed to be different from any of their documents.
Senate President grilled the prosecution about the “little lady” who was the source of the document according to Congressman Umali who claims that the document was given to him in the Senate Building. Senate CCTV cameras did not find any footage of the so called “little lady” handing him the documents.
Senator Judge Cheeze Escudero, put it in perspective when he said the Senate wanted to know whether they were provided a fake document by the prosecution panel and used to mislead the Senate and Public or whether the document itself was faked in the bank to lead the prosecution to more of the bank accounts of the impeached SC Chief Justice.
The revelations were astounding today given that the prosecution did not even want to have the bank manager as their witness until the lead defense panel former Justice Serafin Cuevas questioned the proceedings and questioning by Senator Judge Senator Drillon.
It was however Senator Jinggoy Estrada who stumbled accidentally on more information which he asked of the witness bank manager, leading the Presiding judge to ask more questions.
If indeed that the prosecution used fake or forged documents, then where will this impeachment trial lead to given that the reputation of the Senators have already been sullied by claims of impropriety and bribes from Malacanang. President Benigno Aquino is a staunch supporter to the impeachment process.
The question also paints a disturbing picture of how people in power in this country have used their positions to achieve their personal ambitions under the guise of truth and public interest. Will correcting a mistake or an unlawful act, catching a thief or criminal be legal or even logical if in catching him laws are disregarded and criminal acts are perpetuated in its course? Can we trust our leaders? That is the question! If the Chief Justice is guiltuy, put him in Jail! And if the Prosecution Congressmen are found to have gone on a fishing expedition and used spurious documents to ferret out the truth, let them be jailed as well!
San Lorenzo Village Monitor 