Out-of-court settlement of Corona impeachment ‘unlikely’

MANILA — A lawmaker said he does not see any out-of-court settlement in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona that is set to start on the afternoon of January 16.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jose Ejercito Estrada said over dzBB that it will be difficult to reconcile Corona, who has said he is fighting to keep the Supreme Court independent, and the House prosecution panel, headed by Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr., chairman of the House justice committee and a member of the ruling Liberal Party.
“I don’t think that can be stopped anymore,” he said.
Corona already fired back at President Benigno Aquino III, titular head of the Liberal Party, in a public speech in front of the Supreme Court.
The President had been criticizing Corona in speeches, even delivering one while the Chief Justice was in the same room.
Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel, former Akbayan party-list representative and a member of the Bantay Gloria Movement, said there can be no settlement especially since the articles of impeachment have already been transmitted to the Senate.
The Senate convened as an impeachment court last Wednesday to take their oaths as judges and to issue a summons to Corona.
“The integrity of impeachment as a process to hold officials accountable must be preserved,” she told Sun.Star in a text message.
Bantay Gloria Movement filed a formal petition earlier this month to have Corona distance himself from Arroyo cases. He has refused. He has also said he will not leave his post as chief justice.
Senator Edgardo Angara, also on Sunday, repeated a proposal for the impeachment court to try to mediate in the row between Corona and President Benigno Aquino III and his supporters.
He said the first day of the impeachment trial will be like a pre-trial conference where a judge, or judges in this case, tries to get parties to reconcile. He has warned that pushing through with the impeachment trial will throw the 2012 legislative calendar out of the window.
Neither Article XI of the 1987 Constitution, which covers the accountability of public officers, nor the Senate Rules on Procedure on Impeachment Trials mentions settlements. Corona can, however, resign.
Former ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was impeached in March of this year but resigned before the trial could begin.
Corona has been accused of graft, violating the Constitution, and of betraying the public trust. He said he will stay at his post and will face the articles of impeachment lodged against him.
Angara, a former Senate President himself, said a reported coup in the Senate leadership will serve nobody, especially not Malacañang.
He said it will not help Malacañang to appear to try to “hold the Senate by the nose.”
Corona, in a gathering of supporters in front of the Supreme Court last week, said his impeachment — signed by more than half of the House of Representatives in one day — was an attempt by the executive to take control of the entire government.
Angara said the coup plot mentioned by Estrada Thursday evening, may just be a rumor that has been taken seriously.
“I don’t believe there is one. JPE (Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile) has been managing the Senate well,” he said.
He added that even if the rumor is true, he will not join it, saying such a move will just serve to divide the Senate.
Also on Sunday, Estrada said there have been no actual moves to unseat Enrile and that he was only addressing “persistent rumors” that come up each time the Senate goes on a legislative break.
Estrada said he only wanted to reassure Enrile that should he be unseated as Senate President, he would also give up his position as Senate President Pro Tempore, or second in command.
He said it would be impossible to change the Senate leadership as the Senate prepares for the impeachment trial, both because Enrile has the numbers and also because it would mean a reorganization of the Senate, which will take up a lot of time.
He added Malacañang would not dare to try to control the upper house.
“I don’t think they would be that narrow minded,” he said, adding such a move would make the Palace, and senators who support a coup, look bad.
The Palace has also distanced itself from the coup rumors, saying it has “very good working relations” with Enrile.
Enrile, during budget deliberations, objected to a provision to let the Budget department keep in trust money meant for unfilled positions in the judiciary and other Constitutional offices.
He called it an attempt to control the judiciary. That provision has been removed and the budget was approved and signed in record time.
On Thursday evening, Estrada said moves to remove Enrile as presiding officer of the Senate “will not succeed.”
Under the Senate rules, the Senate President is elected by a majority vote of all members. Enrile has repeatedly said he will readily give up his position if it is shown he no longer has the support of the majority.
“My position as a Senate President was given to me by my peers in the Senate. I did not ask for it. If they want to replace me, tell me. As a matter of responsibility, I cannot abandon the job but once they show me a list of 13 names I will vacate the position,” he said Thursday evening.
Enrile has been Senate President since November 2008 when Senator Manuel Villar Jr. lost the support of the Senate majority over allegations that Villar had doubled budget insertions for the C-5 road extension project through the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas. (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/12/18/out-court-settlement-corona-impeachment-unlikely-196498

Many tourists and residents of Manila traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Pampanga Angeles City, Clark Philippines are surprised to find a a large wine shop so near Manila right in the heart of Pampanga, just 70 minutes from Manila. Even residents of Subic travel to Clark via ScTex to do some wine shopping in this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center, a project of Hong Kong-based Yats International.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Public wine tastings are held by this well known wine shop of Pampanga 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. This is one the things to do in Manila and Pampanga.

Tourists and residents of Manila travel out of town to the north on a short getaway look for the best place in Clark to buy some fine vintage wine to bring home after their holidays and vacations. Many find a top rated wine shop called Clark Wine Center to be an exciting place to do some shopping in Clark Pampanga. This famous wine shop is highly recommended for visitors going to Clark Pampanga to drink good wine, relax and unwind with friends and families. This frequently visited wine shop is known by tourist and visitors to Pampanga, Angeles city, Subic and Clark Philippines as a cool place to hang out in Clark. Many attend the regular wine tasting held either outdoor on the roof deck or in indoor on the second floor above the wine shop. The place has good atmosphere for a private wine tasting party or a small night out gatherings for business or social event.

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:

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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:

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