Top

Juan Ponce Enrile

February 25, 2012 by · Comments Off on Juan Ponce Enrile 

Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President-presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile on Thursday dismissed as hearsay the testimony of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on the truthfulness or falsity of the Supreme Court’s issuance of temporary restraining order (TRO) against the watch list order issued to former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Enrile, however, clarified that the testimony “to the extent of the facts narrated by De Lima” on the basis of the dissenting opinion of Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno will remain into the record.

”But to the extent of the truth or falsity of what the dissenting opinion of Justice Sereno contained, to the extent of those facts whether they are true or not that the Chief Justice influenced, it is hearsay because the witness was not present in the course of deliberations,” he said.

Defense lead counsel Justice Serafin Cuevas made a motion to strike out De Lima’s entire testimony on the alleged “infirmities” or “irregularities” in the issuance of the TRO on November 15.

Upon hearing the ruling, Cuevas said, “I am heavily thankful your honor for the announcement by the presiding officer.”

De Lima told the Senate impeachment court that based on Sereno’s dissenting opinion, the SC implemented the TRO without compliance to the conditions set for the issuance of the restraining order.

Bottom