Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra yesterday calledon the public to pray that the truth will prevail in the impeachment trial versus Chief Justice Renato Coronafor the good of the country.

“Let us all pray that cooler heads prevail and that the Senate judgesact with clear consciences without prejudices and ulterior motives”, he said.

“Our country is at stake, this is not matter that we should take for granted,” the bishop added.

Meanwhile, Felomino Tan, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Negros Occidental chapter, said the prosecution attheimpeachment trial yesterday did not appear to be prepared.

“Impeachment is nota political exercise, itmust be based on facts and evidence. Justice must prevail, due process must be followed,” Tan also said.

Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (Dasmariñas City),a member of the prosecution team, yesterday saidhe was prepared to present their evidence against Corona in relation to his alleged failure to disclose to the public his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

The prosecution was ready to present the second, not the first of eight articles of impeachment filed against Corona, he said.

ButCorona’s lead counsel, Serafin Cuevas, saidthe prosecution should present the first case which is the alleged “partiality and subservience in cases involving the Arroyo administration from the time he was appointed as associate justice to the time of his midnight appointment as Chief Justice.”

The trial has been postponed to 2 p.m. today.

Meanwhile, Liberal Party–Bacolod City chapter president Frank Carbon and honorary chairmanAndres Hagad, in a joint statement, said they hope the impeachment proceedings continue as efficiently,impartially andprofessionally in the succeeding days as when it began.

“We express our satisfaction with the manner in which the Impeachment Court has comported itself, giving the Filipino people hope that the proceedings will end the way it began, dispensing justice not only toCorona but to democracy in general, and to the sovereign people in particular,” they said.

“The party encourages all citizens to listen with both mind and heart to the arguments of both the prosecution and the defense, and to express our sentiment at the end of the Impeachment Trial, to guide the Court to render the absolutely proper and the fairest decision,” they said.

“Let us not forget that, in the impeachment trial, we, and not the Senators who only represent us, are the final arbiter of who is right or wrong,” they added.

Hagad also said “Our judicial system should adopt the speed of the impeachment court in resolving pending motions.”*CPG

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