Drilon to stay on despite motion to inhibit

SENATOR Franklin Drilon will continue to participate in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona despite a motion from defense lawyers asking for his “recusal, inhibition, or disqualification” as a judge in the proceedings for alleged partiality.
Drilon told reporters after the trial adjourned Thursday that inhibition from proceedings is a decision left up to individual senators, and that he will not do that. He said there is no basis to ask him to stay away.
The Senate rules on impeachment trials direct senators to “observe political neutrality during the course of the impeachment trial.” That charges them with hearing the case “without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation or preference.”
Drilon is the senior member of the administration Liberal Party at the Senate, being the party’s vice chairman. He has taken an active role in proceedings and has asked witnesses for the prosecution questions that have earned him comments that he may be trying to help prosecutors from the House of Representatives.
Last week, Drilon and former senator Francisco Tatad exchanged words after Tatad said the senator seemed to be acting like a prosecutor.
But the rules allow Drilon, and all other senators, to ask witnesses, as well as lawyers for both panels, questions. He has said that he asks questions as part of the impeachment court and not to help the prosecution.
Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali, a member of the prosecution team, said had Drilon inhibited, it would be to their detriment.
The prosecution needs votes from two-thirds of 23 sitting senators to secure a conviction and losing Drilon would mean one less potential vote.
“There is no room for any inhibition because the Constitution requires them, all 23, to vote,” Umali said.
On Wednesday afternoon, the defense filed a motion for Drilon to inhibit, saying he has “(cast) doubt on the integrity (of) the impeachment trial process and even the impartiality of the judges themselves.”
The motion, signed by Serafin Cuevas, Jose Roy III, and Dennis Manalo, cited Drilon asking Supreme Court clerk Enriqueta Vidal on January 17 to produce and hand over Corona’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth to the impeachment court.
The prosecution already examined her as a witness, and the defense had waived its right to cross-examine. There had been no mention of producing the SALNs until then.
“It appears, however, that the prosecution found an ally in Senator-judge Drilon, who proceeded to ‘cross-examine’ and badger Attorney Vidal in the guise of ‘clarificatory questions,” the defense said.
The panel also said Drilon “displayed his partiality” when he asked Vidal details about property bought by Corona’s daughter Charina.
Under questioning, Vidal said Corona had acted as attorney-in-fact in the transaction. They said Drilon “made sure to highlight this fact as if to suggest that (Corona) was the beneficial owner of the property.”
Cuevas has said there is nothing wrong with that, and said in the motion that Charina was abroad at the time “and could only act through an attorney-in-fact.”
An attorney-in-fact is a person authorized to enter into transactions on behalf of someone else.
On Thursday afternoon, defense lawyer Rico Paolo Quicho, after being asked on whether Drilon would be asked to inhibit, said a motion had already been filed.
“It’s with the secretariat already,” he said.
Lawyer Tranquil Salvador III declined to give details, however, on the motion, saying it is still pending with the court.
Quicho hinted it could be said that it was the media that suggested the motion to inhibit.
After being told Drilon had no plans to inhibit, Roy said “what matters is that we filed the motion.” (Jonathan de Santos/Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/01/26/drilon-stay-despite-motion-inhibit-202730

Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

Things to do in Subic and Clark Philippines: spend an afternoon in Clark to do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com