MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE, 3:30 p.m.) The House prosecution panel on Wednesday concluded its presentation of evidence on Article 3 after it dropped two accusations in the same article of the verified complaint lodged against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
The prosecution said it would focus its evidence only on the case between Philippine Airlines and the Flight Attendants' and Stewards' Association of the Philippines (FASAP) against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao told the court the prosecution will be dropping allegations particularly "in creating an excessive entanglement with Mrs. Arroyo through her appointment of his wife to office; in discussing with litigants regarding cases pending before the Supreme Court" and the use of public funds for personal use.
This means that the prosecution's witness for Article 3 is only FASAP president Bob Anduiza. On Tuesday, the impeachment court barred the prosecution from presenting as witness the Vice President for Sales of PAL.
"In so far as the prosecution is concerned, we have concluded presentation of evidence with respect to FASAP case covered by Paragraph 3.1 to 3.3 of the Articles of Impeachment," Aggabao told the court.
To which presiding officer Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile replied: "You have totally waived other...you remove everything else? You will not present anymore evidence on this portion of Article 3 and will not be presented for the consideration of the impeachment body? That is very clear."
source: interaksyon.com
