The Senate hearing perks up

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Interest has again perked up in the hearings being held at the Senate for the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona with the entry of the lady Ombudsman as a witness this week.

All along, since the hearings started, with the members of the Senate taking the role of judges, and with the members of the House of Representatives as prosecutors, the tedious legal process was already losing the interest of busy people most of whom had settled down to a waiting mode, while hoping that justice will be done.

But when Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales took the witness stand, everybody knew that she was to be an important key that could disclose matters not available to others, especially after she revealed what information she had about the alleged dollar deposits of her former fellow justice at the Supreme Court.

As the trial had progressed, it could be noted that some of the witnesses appeared to be intimidated by the head of the Corona defense panel, a former justice himself, and a noted trial lawyer, Serafin Cuevas. By his appearance alone, Cuevas often made witnesses look like students being taken to task by the head teacher.

But yesterday and the other day, Cuevas finally met his match in Morales, who gave him tit for tat, and did not hesitate to complain when he seemed to be using all kinds of legal maneuvers to entrap her into admissions she was prepared not to make.

Even with the feisty Senator Miriam Santiago, who often sounds like a member of the defense, Morales stood her ground, earning for her the admiration of those watching the exchanges.

Hopefully, such interest will not wane and only heighten, in case Corona himself finally comes and faces the special court. After he has spoken, let us all pray that justice will be done though the heavens fall.*