MANILA, Philippines (Feb 21, 2012) - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is now on call to take the witness stand as prosecution witness in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona before the Senate.
Many anticipate a face off between De Lima and the equally feisty Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago who is known for vitriolic remarks against prosecution witnesses and lawyers.
“I’ll just have to answer the questions directly, I’ll answer the questions to the best of my ability,” de Lima told reporters in an ambush interview yesterday when asked how she was preparing to answer possible questions from Santiago.
The senator, a former trial court judge, is known for her intense grilling of witnesses and lectures on legal issues to lawyers during trial.
De Lima admitted she needs to be prepared for all types of questioning – “whether it’s grilling or whether just friendly or hostile questions.”
She said she would bring with her documents summoned by the Senate impeachment court pertaining to the Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the inclusion of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel in a government travel watchlist order (WLO), which is subject of Article 7 of the complaint.
“Maybe later or tomorrow I will review my records on the WLO cases in the Supreme Court,” she revealed.
“What’s important is the truth, the fact and certain insights into the attendant circumstance surrounding the issuance of that questionable TRO,” she added.
In the subpoena received by her office last Friday, De Lima was directed to appear before the impeachment court tomorrow.
She was likewise ordered to bring with her 11 documents requested by the prosecution panel in support of Article 7 of the impeachment court, including immigration records of the flight of the Chief Justice in October and November last year before the issuance of the TRO.
The prosecution wants to present De Lima’s testimony to prove that the respondent hurriedly returned to the country last Nov. 10 to grant the TRO petition of Arroyo in the SC.
Her testimonies will also dwell on the circumstances surrounding the various criminal cases that have been filed against the Arroyos, including their intention to travel for other reasons aside from health.
The prosecution also wanted to prove through De Lima that the service of the SC TRO to the Department of Justice (DOJ) was attempted to be made quickly so that Arroyo and her husband could leave the country before being served an arrest warrant for electoral sabotage.
Article 7 says: “Partiality in granting a temporary restraining order in favor of Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo in order to give them an opportunity to escape prosecution and to frustrate the ends of justice, and in distorting the Supreme Court decision on the effectivity of the TRO in view of a clear failure to comply with the conditions of the Supreme Court’s own TRO.”
This allegation was reportedly placed third on the list of presentation of articles by the prosecution team. (From Philstar.com)