House ‘violated own rules’ after hiring private prosecutors

By Virgil B. Lopez
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
THE House of Representatives violated its own rules when it acquired the services of a private lawyer for the upcoming impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, said a retired justice.
The House hired Mario Bautista, the lawyer of bank executive Clarissa Ocampo, a key witness against former President Joseph Estrada in his impeachment trial in 2000.
But retired Supreme Court justice Serafin Cuevas, who defended Estrada in the same trial, said Rule VI, Section 15 of the House rules of procedure in impeachment proceedings only allowed members of the House as prosecutors.
“The House of Representatives shall act as the sole prosecutor at the trial in the Senate through a committee of 11 members, thereof, to be elected by a majority vote,” the rule said.
Corona’s impeachment case is expected to be heard by senator-judges beginning January 16 but the chief magistrate had asked the Senate to resolve first his motion to verify the signatures of 188 lawmakers who voted for his ouster last December 12.
He also asked for a pre-trial that will determine how many witnesses will be summoned and what documents will be presented by both the prosecution and defense panels.
Bautista, as said earlier by prosecution chair Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas, will oversee the legal strategy especially of the nine legal teams composed of volunteer lawyers who will assist the 11-man prosecution panel in handling the eight articles of impeachment.
“They said they are prepared, that they are good. Why the need to hire private prosecutors?” Cuevas asked in a television interview.
For his part, fellow defense lawyer Dennis Manalo said the rules of criminal procedure only allow the designation of a private prosecutor if the workload of the fiscal is already too much and that a private interest is involved.
“In this particular case, who is the private party that has been damaged? There is nobody so what is a private prosecutor doing?” he said.
Cuevas said the hiring of private prosecutors during the impeachment trial of Estrada should not be used as reason to do the same.
“They are citing that (Estrada impeachment) as jurisprudence of precedent. How can that be when that was not terminated? That was not finished,” Cuevas said.
Estrada’s trial was aborted in 2001 when private prosecutors walked out of the impeach proceedings, leading to the Edsa People Power 2 Revolution that toppled Estrada and installed then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the presidency.
Malacañang came to the House’s defense, with Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas calling Cuevas’ assertion as “incorrect”.
Citing Rule XIII of the impeachment rules adopted by the Senate, Llamas said the “counsel for the prosecutors shall be under the control of and supervision of the panel of prosecutors of the House.”
“This clearly indicates that the House panel is specifically empowered to retain separate, private counsel who may be admitted to appear before the impeachment court,” he told Sun.Star.
Llamas said Corona’s camp is just running out of arguments that would merit the dismissal of the impeachment complaint.
“They are actually quite worried that Corona will swiftly be convicted due to the strength of case against him. This may also be an indicator of how they plan to approach the trial; by bringing up weakly grounded and tangential technical issues instead of confronting the charges head on,” he said.
Corona is accused of committing high crimes such as graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.
He has since denied wrongdoing as he saw the ouster plot as a way for President Benigno Aquino III in building a dictatorship. (Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/01/04/house-violated-own-rules-after-hiring-private-prosecutors-198795

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

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Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

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Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

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The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
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Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com