Defense Moves To Inhibit Drilon

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Chief Justice Renato Corona formally asked the Senate impeachment court yesterday to have Sen. Franklin Drilon removed as judge for his being “openly partial and biased” for the prosecution.

In seeking Drilon’s disqualification as senator-judge, the defense camp noted that he has lost the “cold neutrality” of a judge, thus undermining due process. This, defense lawyers said, should prompt the court to order the “recusal, inhibition, or disqualification” of Drilon.

The senator called the accusations baseless.

Defense lawyers have accused Drilon of helping the prosecution team led by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas persuade Supreme Court (SC) clerk of court Enriqueta Vidal to release to the Senate court the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) of Corona.

“It is beyond the cavil that this turn of events has put in question the integrity of proceedings and members of the impeachment court. Every measure must be taken to guard against the erosion of public confidence in the impeachment trial of CJ Corona, lest the proceedings be rendered legally vulnerable,” the defense team, led by retired SC justice Serafin Cuevas, said.

Defense lawyers disputed Drilon’s claim that his actions were “neutral and motivated by the desire for truth.”

“The ‘search for truth’ poses no excuse to relieve a judge from his duty to observe the perception of impartiality,” the defense motion read. Corona’s lawyers said Drilon’s conduct has cast doubt on the integrity of the impeachment trial.

They added that “even the appearance of partiality” should be avoided by a judge.