The House of Representatives' prosecution panel designated Monday private prosecutor Mario Bautista to cross-examine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona when he takes the stand Tuesday in his impeachment trial at the Senate.
House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Naptali Gonzales II told a press briefing a consensus was reached at at Monday's lunch meeting among public and private prosecutors.
Gonzales said Bautista would be assisted by private prosecutors Arthur Lim and Jose Justiniano.
The decision ended days of speculation on who would grill the chief justice after his direct testimony before the Senate, which sits as an impeachment court.
Gonzales said it was agreed private prosecutors will do better in cross-examining Corona considering that public lawyers like himself have not been in litigation for some time.
"I was once a good cross-examiner myself during my peak. But I have been out of practice for 17 years now and I personally would have a private prosecutor who is daily practicing law to cross-examine Corona," said Gonzales.
Depending on the length of Corona's testimony, he said the prosecutors are ready to cross-examine the chief magistrate.
"Of course, last minute adjustments would be made depending on the testimony of the chief justice, but we are ready," Gonzales said.
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