FARINAS' SELF-SERVING CLAIMS!

Impeachment trial prosecutor and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Farinas questioned the acceptance of Chief Justice Renato Corona of free services by the defense lawyers after the Senate Impeachment Court adjourned this afternoon.

He also cast doubts on the true motive and integrity of the defense lawyers in fighting for Corona. Here are the salient points and my observations, ladies and gentlemen.

Think about these, first, before you conclude.

Farinas said under the law, “public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.”

Anybody correct me if I’m wrong but defending himself in the impeachment trial is NOT PART of Corona’s official duties as Chief Justice.

The impeachment trial is NOT an operation being regulated by Corona’s office. It is being regulated by the Senate as the impeachment court.

Neither is the impeachment trial a transaction which may be affected by the functions of the Office of the Chief Justice.

It is an INDEPENDENT legal procedure which, as no less than the Constitution provides, will be SOLELY CONDUCTED and DECIDED on by the Senate Impeachment Court.

Farinas claimed he had been telling Corona that it was inappropriate for him to accept the services of top lawyers from big law firms for free, especially firms which have pending cases before the Supreme Court and all other courts.

But he did not specify which lawyer or firm he was referring to.

Farinas DID NOT SHOW PROOF that the private prosecutors in their team, or their clients, DO NOT HAVE ANY PENDING complaint or requests for favors from any of them congressmen-prosecutors or any other member of the House of Representatives.

In an obvious mockery of the defense team’s integrity, Farinas asked.

If the defense team will provide the same kind of service they’re giving now to Corona to the poor.

But he DID NOT guarantee that private prosecutors of the prosecution will do the same. He didn’t even say that as a lawyer, he would be willing to serve the poor for free.

Farinas also claimed that private prosecutors are rendering their services for free!

I say TELL IT TO THE MARINES!

Farinas said Corona should be his own counsel, in effect adding without the help of his top-caliber defense lawyers.

Then, for them to be fair and square, the prosecution should also be their own counsels and not go on a seemingly endless addition of private prosecutors.

It’s not the fault of Corona and the defense if despite their superiority in numbers, the prosecution is still going through the proverbial eye of the needle in proving the Chief Justice’s guilt.

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From the readers:

START PRAYING, LUZON RESIDENTS!

MARIA DOLORES SANTOS of London, United Kingdom

Ayokong isipin na ang sunod-sunod na kalamidad sa ating bansa ay bunga nangga pagmamalabis ng tao sa kalikasan. Masyado nang pagsasamantala ang gingaawa ng tao sa ating kapaligiran at hanggang di natin isinasaayos ang pamamahala sa mundo ay patuloy tayong makakaranas ng ibat-ibang uri ng kalamidad. Palagay ko'y napapanahon na upang baguhin ang mga batas na nauukol sa pangangalaga ng kapaligiran at ang pagbabantay sa likas na yaman na kung tututusin ay ang mga makapangyarihang pulitiko at mga banyagang kapitalista lamang ang nakikinabang.

ELENA SALVADOR

"Start asking your congressmen, mayors and other local officials HOW SAFE are your villages and towns or cities from earthquakes. How safe and how prepared!"

RMG HEART of Ilagan, Isabela

Prayer is the best weapon.

OLIVE VECINA of Bacoor, Cavite

Dapat lang talaga. Prayer is important to all of us.

JOSE FERNANDO of Norfolk, Virginia, USA

There's nothing else to do but pray. You won't be in the wrong place at the wrong time. There's no such thing as an earthquake proof structure.

GING TENGCO

Oo nga. Inuna ang Mindanao, tapos Visayas. PANGINOON, please spare the Philippines from natural calamities!.

MARIAM SWEET of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sa panahon ngayon, kailangan talagang magdasal para sa haharapin nating bukas, Kasi, unti-unti na tayong pinaparusahan ng Panginoon, God help us.

FUNDADOR BINAHON of Malaybalay, Bukidnon

"The prayer of the righteous man/woman availeth much."

DENNIS ASIS

Sa Xavierville yata ang kasunod… joke!

MELONA PILLO of Paranaque

Pray without ceasing...not just in times like these.

BETH FERNANDEZ

Pray.

NO CLEAR BASIS FOR EXPECTED 4M TOURISTS

RICARDO MAULION of Cagayan de Oro City

And your recommendations, please?

ANONYMOUS

Ako Filipino na taga ibang bansa. Ayaw ko na munang umuwi at puro crime napapanood ko sa TV. May mga pinatay na foreigners kelan lang. I don’t think they will reach 4 million, baka 400 in one year.

ANONYMOUS

Peace is Fun! Total safety for tourists and investors is very important! Not only the officials are to be blamed for the chaos and pandemonium in the Philippines. It’s the whole population in general -from street vendors to taxi drivers. Most, if not all of the above-mentioned sectors, need lots of improvements to attract visitors!  30