Senator-judges are just doing what they are supposed to do – Rep. Noel

TACLOBAN CITY – The Senator-judges are just being themselves and doing what they are supposed to do as judges in the impeachment trial against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

This was according to An Waray Party-list Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel in an interview.

Noel was one of the signatories in the Lower House for the impeachment of Corona and tasked by Congress to handle their media affairs for the impeachment process.

The reaction of Noel was in relation to some comments against Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and Franklin Drilon in the process of impeachment.

“Senator Enrile is being him, he knows the law and he knows what he is doing,” said Noel.

“He should not be replaced, he has the experience and not even the President would want him change,” Noel added.

“But what we only asked from him is to give us a leeway in asking and be more liberal,” he added.

This statement of Noel was in relation to the second day of impeachment trial where the prosecution panel said that the defense panel made about 30 objections with the defense reforming their questions at least 20 times prompting the prosecution panel to ask the Senate President to give them flexibility in asking questions.

On the part of Senator Drilon, Noel said that what the senator did was to ask a clarrificatory question and make his point.

To recall, the defense panel had asked the exclusion of Drilon who is also acting as a Senator Judge for alleged partiality.

Drilon, is a member of the Liberal Party, the political party of President Aquino.

The defense panel claimed that Drilon in the on-going impeachment trial had help the prosecution team obtain the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of Corona for the period of 2010-2011 from the Supreme Court Clerk of Court Enriquetta Esguerra-Vidal.

“I don’t know the impression of the public to Senator Drilon, but what we should remember when he stand in the impeachment proceeding was he only make a clarrificatory questions,” Noel said.

Noel added that with the impeachment process against Corona it does not affect the whole judiciary as it only affects the Supreme Court Chief Justice.

“This exercise is constitutional because he is holding an impeachable position,” Noel said.

“What we are trying to find out why he is being held under process of impeachment is to find out if the accused is really guilty on the charges against him,” Noel stressed.