Impeach trial to further tiff between executive, judiciary

THINGS are going to get worse before they get better, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Wednesday, as the Senate began the trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona who was impeached by the House of Representatives just two days ago.
That same afternoon, Corona had given a speech in front of hundreds of court employees and supporters clad in black. He accused President Benigno Aquino III of orchestrating his impeachment, adding it was done to give Aquino a subservient Supreme Court.
“I oppose this dictatorship that (the President) is creating,” Corona said in Filipino.
“Both sides, the Executive and the Judiciary, feel that they are required to articulate their stands and explain to the people what is happening,” Cayetano said.
In recent days, the President had also been sniping at Corona and the Supreme Court, calling the Chief Justice a hindrance to justice.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago earlier warned the impeachment could make the judiciary unstable because justices will face the threat of impeachment “if they issue the politically-incorrect decision.”
“(The President) apparently believes in a very strong executive, and naturally the legislative and judicial branches feel that there is an ominous scenario coming on the horizon,” she added.
Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to whose father the President has been likened since the Palace and Supreme Court began clashing, called the impeachment a “frontal attack on the judiciary and the legal system.”
He said Aquino’s legal advisers may not have warned the President of the implications of impeaching Corona.
“Whether he is impeached or not, this will have permanent effects,” he said, adding the Executive branch seems to think it is “more equal” than the other branches of government.
Senator Joker Arroyo said Tuesday that “there is no Constitution anymore,” referring to the House’s quick impeachment of Corona under the President’s direction.
He said the separation of powers had been violated, and that “the government is now one.”
Aquino critics and Corona supporters have also warned of a “constitutional crisis” stemming from the impeachment.
But Cayetano, a lawyer like Arroyo and Santiago, said there is no crisis.
“In fact, we are experiencing the reverse. The constitution is alive and it is working. The clashing of the great powers of the government was meant by the framers of the Constitution precisely because the government shouldn’t be a dictatorship with only one person or branch reigning supreme,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, chairman of the Senate committee on rules, said Corona’s speech attacking Aquino would not influence the impeachment court.
“That was said outside the court, and we will not pay that any mind,” he said.
He initially declined to comment, citing a prohibition from discussing the merits of the Corona case but allowed that the Chief Justice had the right to speak.
Senator Panfilo Lacson also said Corona was within his rights to defend himself in public especially since the President has attacked him in public, even lashing out at him in a speech delivered while Corona was in the audience.
Senator Franklin Drilon, an Aquino ally who has also been critical of Corona, said the Chief Justice should “stay cool.”
He said the impeachment trial, and not a public speech, is the proper venue to address the eight articles of impeachment lodged against Corona.
Corona should “be dignified in his responses,” the senator said.
The Senate on Wednesday afternoon suspended its legislative session to constitute itself into an impeachment court, which, Majority Leader
Sotto III means the start of proceedings against Corona.
Led by Senate Sergeant at Arms Jose Balajadia Jr., senators filed into the session hall dressed in red judge’s robes.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile took his oath as a senator-judge before Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, the youngest lawmaker in the chamber. Enrile then administered the oath to his colleagues.
After the senators took their oaths, the court directed the Senate secretary to issue Corona a summons. Impeachment Court spokesperson Maria Valentina Cruz told reporters when the court adjourned that the summons, which is a covering document attached to the verified impeachment complaint, will “probably” be served Thursday.
Under the impeachment rules that the Senate adopted earlier this year for the trial of former ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, Corona will have 10 calendar days to file an answer at the Senate.
The Senate will then transmit Corona’s answer to prosecutors at the House of Representatives. Those prosecutors will then have five days from the receipt of the answer to respond. Cruz said the deadlines cannot be extended.
Sotto said it is possible that the trial proper can begin when the Senate comes back from the Christmas break on January 16 next year. (Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/12/14/impeach-trial-further-tiff-between-executive-judiciary-195835

Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.

This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.

Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.

Things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga: do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga. This is a great place to buy wine and also to drink wine in Pampanga.

Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

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.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

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:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

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:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

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
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

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