Record of the Senate - Integrated Bar of the Philippines

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 65Are you through?Mr. Roy. Well, Your Honor, in view of that—The Presiding Officer. Make the proper motion and I assure you I will issue the subpoenatomorrow.Mr. Roy. Yes, Your Honor. But we move for a continuance in order to prepare also becauseit is a fairly sudden development.The Presiding Officer. You have no more witness today?Mr. Roy. None for today, Your Honor.The Presiding Officer. All right.What is the pleasure of the gentleman from San Juan?Mr. Roy. A 48-hour continuance, Mr. President, please. There is not enough time. This is aconsiderable list of witnesses. As soon as the subpoenas have been issued, we will proceed quickly,Mr. President.Senator Ejercito Estrada. Mr. President—If I may have the floor, Mr. President?The Presiding Officer. Yes, please.Senator Ejercito Estrada. Thank you, Mr. President.Mr. Counsel.Mr. Roy. Yes, sir.Senator Ejercito Estrada. Is my impression correct? Is the Chief Justice willing to appearbefore this Court if and when this Court grants your request to subpoena these certain persons thatyou have mentioned?Mr. Roy. Your Honor, while his statement is not to testify, it is not conditional. I wish to makethat clear. But he himself has also assessed the evidence against him. And unless this particularmatter is not raised formally under oath, he feels there would be really no need to testify to addressthe other issues. But if this particular matter is raised, then he will feel compelled to confront itdirectly, also under oath.Senator Ejercito Estrada. Well, my name was mentioned a while ago when I was inside thelounge that I mentioned regarding the alleged $10-million deposit.Yes, it is true that I mentioned this alleged $10-million deposit when I appealed to the Prosecutionpanel to let the respondent appear before this Impeachment Court. Iyong $10 million na nailathalasa diyaryo, nasabi sa mga radyo, na-TV, kaya ko sinabi iyon, if the Chief Justice can voluntarilyanswer the allegations against this $10-million deposit.Ngayon, if he is willing to answer this allegation regarding this deposit, then he can clear the issue,he can clear the air regarding this particular $10-million deposit. But I am not telling him to clarify itright away. Kung boluntaryo niyang sasabihin, di mas madadali ang magiging desisyon nitongkorteng ito.