JPE and Davide: Contrasting presiding justices
FRONTLINE |
Ninez Cacho-Olivares |
Due to the hasty exit of Chief Justice Renato Corona, described by some as a walkout, but apparently done because of his feeling faint and ill, what immediately came to mind was the way presiding impeachment court judge Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile handled the situation, in comparison to then presiding judge Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.
It was there that made clear the power of the presiding judge to continue with the trial and even cite for contempt the then prosecutors during the impeachment trial of then President Joseph Estrada.
Davide could have even ordered the prosecutors — private and public — to return to the court and finish their business, or else, Davide could certainly have declared the prosecution in default and had the senator-judges take the vote — which clearly would have established the acquittal of Estrada..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120525com2.html
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