Enrile to Cuevas: Will you elevate result of proceedings to SC?

MANILA, Philippines – Presiding Officer Juan Ponce Enrile asks defense lead counsel Serafin Cuevas if they will take the result of the impeachment proceedings up to the Supreme Court.

Enrile: Before we proceed, I would like to clarify something from the defense, and I address this to the chief defense counsel. I understand that there was an interview done where you were involved this morning and that you indicated your determination to elevate the result of this proceeding to the Supreme Court. Is this correct?

Cuevas: I did not have any interview, Your Honor, with anybody this morning. In fact I woke up about 9 o clock already because of the preparation of my paper, Your Honor, in connection with the argument.

Enrile: I got this information— transcript of interview with former Justice, Serafin Cuevas, with Weng Salvacion of DZBB.

Sotto: Mr. President, most probably yesterday.

Enrile: Yeah maybe. Sunday. I will quote what the defense counsel said— “We have no other alternative but to resort to such a certiorari. I have asked a petition for review questioning the validity of the actuations or the proceedings before with the impeachment court and necessarily with a motion to nullify the entirety of the proceedings that took place therein. Iyon pong walang appeal, hindi po kami totohanang sumasakay doon sapagkat hindi naman nakalagay sa konstitusyon iyon. Ang nakalagay lang, ‘the moment the Senate convenes as the impeachment court, shall continue the trial.’ Wala po namang sinasabing ang desisyon ‘shall be final and non-appealable.’ Wala po talagang ganon na nakalagay sa Saligang Batas.” We respect your position but I would just like to remind you that reading of Article 11… It’s provided that the Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all impeachment cases. I just want to put that into the record.

Cuevas admits to saying in an interview that, if the Chief Justice is convicted, they will elevate the case to the Supreme Court.

Cuevas: Yes Your Honor. If the question refers to the interview of Weng Salvacion, I admit, Your Honor, that last Sunday in her program I was interviewed. And I made those statements, Your Honor. – Rappler.com