DRILON TO THE RESCUE, AGAIN!

 It’s getting harder to believe that Sen. Franklin Drilon is not for the prosecution in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The prosecution miserably failed to prove that the reduced price given to Corona for his penthouse unit at the Belagio was anomalous or illegal. .

The marketing boss of Belagio developer Megaworld categorically testified that the price reduction was not for any favor from Corona or the Supreme Court.

He also explained the reasons for the reduced price.

When the defense was already cross-examining the witness, and other senators were questioning the relevance of the reduced price, Drilon rose and said the issue is the truthfulness and accuracy of  Corona’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN)

I’m not saying that Drilon’s argument is wrong. However, take note, ladies and gentlemen:

Drilon stood up ONLY when it became obvious that the prosecution was being demolished by the witness’ testimony after more than 40 minutes of direct examination or questioning.

Whether he admits it or not, Drilon SAVED THE FACE, and the credibility, not only of the private prosecutor but of the entire prosecution with his reminder.

Anybody correct me if I’m wrong but as a judge, Drilon should only ask questions which are STRICTLY NEUTRAL and would not be of help in any way to either the prosecution or the defense.

Imagine what the public impression and perception on the prosecution would have been in the coming days of the trial had Drilon not spoken to the effect that they weren’t really wrong with their move.

Making t worse is it was the second time that Drilon had done something seemingly favorable to the prosecution.

Early in the trial it was Drilon, and NOT THE PROSECUTION, who questioned, and eventually elicited from the Supreme Court clerk of court the information that she had with her the SALN of Corona during her testimony.

Judge for yourselves, guys.

                                                          ***

From the readers:

ANOTHER DECEIVING SWS SURVEY!

BERNADETTE SALAZER of Imus, Cavite

They said in the survey that the number of poor has gone down but mas dumami ang nagugutom. Parang may mali yata.

ABDUL RAJEED MANAIN

It's a very predictable move.

RODEL BANARES of Marikina City

Ginagawa tayong tanga ng SWS. The hunger rate is directly proportional to the poverty rate. If poverty goes up, hunger goes up. if poverty goes down, hunger goes down. Saan ka makakakita na bumaba ang poverty, pero tumaas ang hunger? Ano ito, akala ba nila bobo tayo?

GEMMIELY ONG of Stockton, California, USA

\Liars sila.

ANDO VEN

Kaya bumaba yung number of poor kasi namatay na iyung iba at kaya tumaas yung nagugutom, kasi yung dating 3x a day kumakain, ngayon ay once na lang. Kung susuwertehin pa yun.

LOLITA BELEN of Cabuyao, Laguna

Penoy is worst than Hitler! He is killing the Filipinos inch by inch with his blatant inundations! THIS IS REALLY TOO MUCH!

CHADROSE SANCHEZ

Hoy, SWS, mga bulag ba kayo or d kayo marunong magbasa? Bakit, pinupuntahan n’yo ba ang lahat na nagugutom at pinapakain? Mga sinungaling kayo! Kung wala rin lang kayong maayos na ibabalita, manahimik na lang kayo. Puiro naman hula iyand mga sinasabi n’yo.!

BIEN BALAJADIA

It is SWS… enough said.

MALAYANG PINOY

Sana lang, isinama mo iyong source mo para naman may comparison ang reader sa actual content at sa commentary mo. 

THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH RECEIVING DISCOUNTS!

GEM MIMA of Covina, California, USA

I was just wondering. Here in the US, a Supreme Court justice, under the rules that the federal judicial system adopted, judges are free to accept gifts of unlimited value from people without official business before the court. Ganun din ba diyan sa Pilipinas? Does the Constitution allow the justices the same?

AL TIZON

Bottom line, there’s no way out for Mr. Corona.

RAFFY ADVINCULA

All holes are sealed. No way out. One thing is certain, though. With this impeachment trial, the relationship between the President and the judiciary has been broken.

BETH FERNANDEZ

This discount is weird.   

BAGO KAYO PAGAMIT KAY DINKY SOLIMAN,,,

FREDDIE DUCUSIN

Ang Dios pa rin ang Siyang nakakaalam ng lahat ng bagay sa mundo. Kahit ano man ang mangyari sa Impeachment trial,  mapawalang sala man o may sala, ang mga mahihirap pa rin ang apektado sa mga pangyayari. 30 

ALLAN CAYETANO IS FOR IMPEACHMENT PROSECUTION!

So, Sen. Allan Cayetano has shown his true color this early – HE IS FOR THE PROSECUTION in the Corona impeachment trial.

Even if he cited legal technicalities in objecting to presiding judge Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s rejection of a subpoena for Corona and his family, one thing is UNDENIABLE.

Cayetano raised his objection AFTER the prosecution agreed to the court’s ruling.

Anyway he puts it, he WANTED TO HELP the prosecution obtain their request for subpoenas for the Coronas despite their acceptance of the rejection.

It’s just like Cayetano telling the prosecution ‘Don’t give up yet! I have some ammunition for you!’

Otherwise, Cayetano should have raised his objection BEFORE the prosecution submitted to Enrile’s ruling.

That would have made his objection a totally neutral clarification, since the prosecution has not bowed to Enrile’s ruling and could have insisted on a motion for reconsideration.

The rules allow any senator to raise any objection. However, that objection should be strictly NEUTRAL, not only in words but more importantly in THOUGHT AND INTENT!

What makes it more surprising, if not vulgar, is Cayetano was the only one among the senator-judges who objected to the denial of subpoenas for the Coronas.

The recognized and more seasoned legal luminaries among the senators, like Joker Arroyo and Edgardo Angara, did not raise any objection.

One can only imagine now how much more grandstanding and partial moves disguised as parliamentary inquiry will be made by Cayetano in the coming sessions of the impeachment court.

To the truly NEUTRAL and  peace-loving, KEEP AN EYE on this senator from Tagig. 30

DRILON, PANGILINAN, ESCUDERO SHOULD INHIBIT !

You can also follow Danger Signs on Twitter. My user name is nemesio antonio. Thanks.

Come to think of it, the danger that President Aquino has indeed been talking to senators for the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona doesn’t only apply to Sen. Francis Escudero.

There are two others, Senators Franklin Drilon and Francis Pangilinan.

Drillon and Pangilinan are UNDENIABLE DIEHARDS of Pnoy and two of his most zealous attack dogs against Corona in the effort to oust the Chief Justice.

If Pnoy can do it to Escudero, there’s no reason why he can’t talk to Drilon and Pangilinan. And we have NO PROOF that this hasn’t happened, yet, except the denial they’ll expectedly issue once asked by anyone.

Remember, Escudero had admitted talking to Pnoy more than a week ago. By then, the articles of impeachment against Corona had been already transmitted to the Senate.

But Escudero even tried to make idiots out of the people by claiming they never talked about the impeachment in their hour-long chat.

So unless Drilon, Pangilinan and Escudero can present convincing evidence that Pnoy has not talked them into convicting Corona, they have no moral right to be judges in the impeachment trial.

If only for DELICADEZA, they should withdraw as judges.

Drilon and Pangilinan had vigorously called on Corona to inhibit himself from cases in the Supreme Court involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) before the Chief Justice was impeached

They claimed Corona was biased, since he was appointed by GMA.

But Escudero admits to being a personal friend of Pnoy. Drilon and Pangilinan, apart from being undeniable attack dogs against Corona, are indisputable critics to the max of GMA.

No lengthy explanation is needed for the presence, or even the possibility, of bias against Corona among them.

Either of which ENDANGERS the IMPARTIALITY of the impeachment trial. 

                                                          ***

From the readers:

PNOY’S UNDENIABLE HYPOCRISY AND DOUBLE TALK

YUKO TAKEI

Bakit? Ngayon lang ba nakahalata ang mga Pilipino?

LOLITA PERSCHBACHER

A good leader should understand that criticism, could be an eyes opening for better governance.

THALEIAH LIU

I like the title of your article. Content, great.

IF CORONA PROSECUTORS ARE REALLY FAIR…

RAIZA WYNNE

Aabangan ko ito. Pasikat talaga iyang Tupas na iyan.

FRANKO DAGAN

They've never been fair. They have been playing extra judicially by releasing those unsubstantiated allegations to the public. They want the public to support them and hope to elicit hoots and howls in their favor, so that the senators, especially those up for reelection, will show off.

JOEMACVER VERA

It is actually more than a danger sign. Without verifying the authenticity of whatever pieces of evidence in their possession and the reputation of the evidence providers, they immediately jump on the gun and again use the subservient media to air their charges against the embattled CJ. It is pretty obvious that they are employing the infamous Hitler media tactic, that of continuously peddling lies until the people accept it as truth. And sad to say, it is already happening, with majority blindly giving their support to the accusers and their boss.

MARTIN CRUZ

Let us just allow the impeachment to begin and continue until its conclusion. Let the prosecutors do their thing whether in conformity or contrary to established rules. Let the Chief Justice defend himself. In the end, truth shall prevail. This time let the end justify whatever means democracy has adopted in the effort to remove or retain an impeachable official of the government.

PAGCOR CHARTER

The atrocities that the Administration has committed against collegial decisions of the Supreme Court can be readily corrected by the High Tribunal itself, of which CJ Corona is just a part of.

RICKY MONFORT of Bacolod City

It is getting obvious that the lapdogs are desperate, thus resulting in fabricating evidences against the chief justice. This is how dirty these lapdogs in the Lower House are just to please the chihuahua living by the Pasig River. Though they were warned not to publicize any evidence in public, they still do and defy the warning of the senator- judges. Their frustration is showing. This is not working in their favor and their reasoning is out of this world. I can't wait for Monday to come and see these lapdogs get grilled for lack of merit in all the articles that they are trying to prove.

MARISSA GARCIA of Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Sad but true. Go viral. How do we reach the masses? Sila, they havw Kris na effective sa common people. 30

PNOY, CHIZ CAST DOUBT ON IMPEACH TRIAL'S FAIRNESS!

A huge cloud of doubt has just been cast on the integrity and impartiality of the upcoming impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Thanks to no less than President Aquino himself and to Sen. Francis Escudero.

Escudero has admitted that the President had talked to him for an hour last week. As expected, he claimed that their chat never touched on the impeachment trial.

But before anyone takes Escudero’s word as gospel truth, think about these, SERIOUSLY:

Pnoy has been the most aggressive accuser of Corona long before the 188 congressmen voted to impeach the Chief Justice. Escudero is one of the judges.

The accuser talks to a judge for an hour JUST DAYS before the trial of the man he wants penalized.  

PURELY FOR PLEASANTRIES? As the kids say nowadays, HALER!

Other than Escudero’s own words, guys, we have NO ASSURANCE that Pnoy did not influence him to vote for the conviction of Corona.

Which would be GROSSLY UNFAIR any way you look at it.

It’s also shocking, if not SUSPICIOUS, why Escudero talked to Pnoy at this time even if their personal friends. Escudero is a lawyer.He should have known, and even advised Pnoy that their fairness and integrity iwill be highly suspect once the people learn of their conversation.

Take note people,

Escudero’s admission comes at a time when reports are alleging that Pnoy has started talking to the senator-judges and offering them bribes just to convict Corona (which Malacanang, of course, has vehemently denied). 

Let’s all be EXTRA VIGILANT once the impeachment trial starts, boys and girls! 

Let’s listen to EVERY WORD Escudero will say, and watch EVERY MOVE he’ll make, to find out for ourselves if he and Pnoy really didn’t talk about the Corona impeachment.

One thing I’ll tell you, Escudero’s admission shows the height of HYPOCRISY and ARROGANCE of Pnoy.

Just days ago, Pnoy ordered his men and political allies to stay away from the senator-judges purportedly to show that Malacanang isn’t influencing the outcome of the trial.

Then, he SHAMELESSLY does the CONTRARY!  As if saying, ‘Even if I had disallowed it, I CAN DO ANYTHING, I’M THE BOSS!’

I wonder if Pnoy has heard of the phrase leadership by example. 30

                                                  ***

From our readers:

THERE’S SOMETHING ELSE BEHIND NAZARENE TERROR PLOT

KRISTOPHER JOHN REGALADO of Al-Basrah, Iraq

Nice blogs. It’s a good decision  on the part of Pnoy to jam cellular phone signal in Metro Manila.

NELLY BRISSON of South Berwick, Maine, USA

We can’t control yon, Boyet. Pray that all is well.

LETTY ARCILLA

Sir Boyet, ang sinusuportahan ay yung nagsasabi ng katotohanan at maganda ang pananaw sa kapaligiran! Saludo po ako sa inyo! Kahit anong pananakot ang gawin ng Penoy Administrasiyon, wala pong maniniwala.Iba-iba ang mga sinasabi ng mga kapulisan, ng Dept. of National Defense at NBI. Ano ba kayo? Wala bang naging meeting muna, para pare-pareho ang mga pagsisinungaling ninyo?

EPOY ENRIQUEZ of Las Pinas

What's the clear phenomenon is the sea of human devotees of unconquerable, unfathomable faith - can't be more disquieting than speculation or suspicion. Let the signs and wonders revealed in the scriptures intrigue our minds.

CHIQUI APE

It’s more terrifying now in the Philippines!

GING TENGCO

I think Panot is testing the waters para sa plan B niya in case ma-acquit si Corona.

TRILLANES SHOULD QUIT AS IMPEACH COURT JUDGE!

If he has any decency left, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV should IMMEDIATELY WTIHDRAW as a judge in the forthcoming impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

His declaration that political acceptability, and not evidence, would be his sole criterion for his final decision is nothing less than an admission of INCOMPETENCE, BIAS and the START OF HIS CAMPAIGN for the 2013 elections.

How TRAGIC that for a senator who’s supposed to be a person of knowledge and wisdom, Trillanes seems IGNORANT of, or is DELIBERATELY IGNORING, the cardinal rule that  a judge must be TOTALLY IMPARTIAL in rendering a verdict.

Not just a court judge but ANY JUDGE for that matter.

And that a judge should decide based ONLY on evidence or what had been presented before him or her.

So even if Corona successfully belies every article of impeachment against him with solid evidence, Trillanes wouldn’t care less.

For Trillanes, t’s the people who will have to decide. Whatever the people want, whatever is acceptable to them, that will be his decision.

Then, why the hell did he agree to be a judge in the first place? If that’s his line of thinking, if he can’t be totally fair, he has NO PLACE in the impeachment court.

How can Corona, and the people,  expect a 100-percent fair trial now?

Trillanes has just cast doubt on the impartiality of the rest of the senators, especially those who will run for reelection in 2013, as judges of the impeachment court. 

I sure hope the rest of the senators realize this.

If Corona’s impeachment trial will be delayed because he will raise questions of fairness and move for the relief or, or sanctions against, Trillanes, don’t blame him.

Blame Trillanes and the Pontius Pilate blood running in his veins. 30