Chief Justice Renato Corona, who, his lawyer said, is appearing before the Senate Impeachment Court today, should prove his innocence with real evidence, Negros Occidental congressmen said yesterday.

The chief justice walked out on his impeachment hearing Tuesday claiming he had a hypoglycemic attack.

Defense lead counsel, former SC Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, yesterday said Corona will appear at the Senate impeachment trial today, accompanied by his attending physician.

Corona on Tuesday signed a waiver to the confidentiality of his peso and dollar bank accounts but imposing the condition that all his accusers do likewise without a single exception.

“I'd advise him to sign the waiver without the conditions. If he claims to be innocent of all the charges then he might as well show his innocence by proving, using material evidence and not hearsay evidence, that he is telling the truth,” Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) said.

Alavrez said she hopes the public will not be diverted from the main issue.

The congressmen are not the ones on trial, Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) said on Corona’s challenge .

The chief justice should sign the waiver unconditionally, Marañon said, adding that Corona was very arrogant when he left the witness stand without being excused.

“He should have given due respect accorded to him by the senator judges,” Marañon added.

Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District), said he is willing to open his bank accounts, but it is Corona who is the one on trial.

Bayan-Negros Secretary GeneralChristian Tuayonsaid his group will stage a protest calling for the conviction of Corona on Tuesday, the day in which the Senator-judges are expected to rule on his case. He said they may move the date of their protest if the decision day is also moved.

He said that if no action is taken, then the Philippines will be known as a “sanctuary of thieves.”*CPG

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