SENATOR-JUDGE MIRIAM DIVULGED ON SURVEYS 

          Before the break of the impeachment trial in the later part of March this year, Senator-Judge Miriam Santiago blurted at the survey firm Pulse Asia for releasing results showing 40 percent of the respondents found Chief Justice Renato Corona guilty in the impeachment trial which started in January 16, 2012.

          Sen. Santiago pointed at the survey firm of engaging in a scornful act when it released last month results of its survey in advance of the final verdict of the Senate impeachment court.

          The lady senator well-known for her bizarre style in legislation and as a judge in the impeachment court, noticed that there was a big portion of respondents who were actually ambivalent of what would be the result of the impeachment trial.

          “They were not affected at all by the negative response of the public. There was a clear effort to manipulate the results of the impeachment trial,” said the belligerent senator.

          Miriam justified also why Chief Justice Corona got somewhat low trust and approval ratings on the survey, comparatively speaking with those of President Benigno Aquino, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Jose Ponce Enrile and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.

          “They did not explain that during surveys, the Chief Justice’s results are low because his post is not political. That is the reason., In fact, he should not even be included there. Not merely talking of the present chief justice but of all the chief justices,” Sen. Santiago noted.

          Santiago added that comparing to the jury practice in the United States, the senator-judges in the impeachment court are not isolated from the trial by publicity being waged against the Chief Justice.

          “This is a very blatant case of trying to influence the senator-judges. If that is the case, that is already contempt, they are just lucky because the judges now are very aware, especially those who are seeking re-election for 2013 that they should not aggravate the media,” said Santiago who warned some quarters that further trial by publicity would not sit well with the defense which issues could be used in a possible mistrial.

          “They should be held in contempt because what they are doing is very clear. Do they want to be treated the same, trial by publicity? And there is a big possibility that there will be a mistrial because according to the Constitution, if there is too much trial by publicity they could declare a mistrial but we cannot apply it,” Said Santiago in Pilipino who added that if in case there is a mistrial, the only thing they can do is to transfer the venue of the trial but they don’t have such other available venue to transfer.

          “We will only be in session up to June 7, that’s barely one month, then we will have sine die adjournment. We only have one month left so we should not be distracted,”

          The lady senator did not rule out the possibility that the two camps would be exerting efforts to court for votes in favor or against CJ Corona, to either convict the chief justice, in the case of the prosecution, or acquit him, in the case of the defense.

          “Absolutely, I’m sure it’s going to take place, both sides. Because there is leisure to see each person, each senator face to face. They cannot spend the entire one month abroad, sooner or later, you have to face your fears,” Senator Miriam said in one of her interview over the radio.

          The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, is now on its six-week Lenten break since March 23. Its session and trial for the chief justice will resume on May 7.

          Of the 23 senators, 16 votes is sufficient to convict CJ Corona while for acquittal, he needs at least eight votes in each of the remaining three Articles of Impeachment.

          As expounded by legal luminaries, acquittal must be obtained in Articles 2,3, and 7. A guilty vote in one article would spell Corona’s ouster from office, with penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office.

          Santiago emphasized that enticement can come in the form of support for any of the senator-judges who are seeking for re-election, taking into consideration that the administration can use its resources to support one’s electoral bid.

          Nevertheless, the lady senator said that Corona supporters should not get too much bothered. It is because the chief justice maintains support of some huge groups from various sectors, one of those is the INC known for their united stand in voting during elections. Although previously denied by the leadership of the Iglesia ni Cristo, their bible exposition at the Quirino Grandstand in February was reportedly, a show of force in supporting Corona.# Alerto Reportorial Team

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