January 28 to February 4: Juan Ponce Enrile, Serafin Cuevas. Full coverage: Impeachment Trial Day 4 and Day 5

January 28 to February 4

Stories: Juan Ponce Enrile, Serafin Cuevas 

Special Videos: Full coverage: Impeachment Trial Day 4 and Day 5

Artists of The Week

English OPM: Calvin Millado

Tagalog OPM: Junior

Beyond OPM: Art Garfunkel

The Embodiment of Unparalleled Legal Brilliance  

Serafin Cuevas is the most fascinating figure in TV nowadays. Cuevas, 83, the lead counsel for the defense in the aired-live impeachment trial of Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, is a debater’s wet dream. 

He's what law students aspire to be, and what other lawyers think they are too. 

The wise and witty Cuevas,, the lead author of the High Tribunal trial manual and member of the University of the Philippines Law Center Committee which drafted the Board of Crimes, is a retired Supreme Court Associate Justice and a former Justice Secretary.

Serafin Cuevas has earned the deep respect of even his legal opponents, captured the public imagination, and earned his place in history.

The Evolution of Juan Ponce Enrile

Johnny Enrile has successfully reinvented himself. 

He was one of the architects of martial law, decreed by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1972. Thousands of people died or disappeared, not counting the tortured and the incarcerated, as freedom died.

Then in 1986,Defense Minister Enrile, together with Armed Forces chief Fidel Ramos, withdrew his support for Marcos. That was the spark that ignited the People Power Revolution in, and Enrile was hailed as one of the heroes of democracy.

But even as Cory Aquino was still adjusting as the new President, Enrile has been pointed as the master mind of the 7 coup attempts that hay wired the momentum of political transformation and nearly destroyed the economy.

Today, Senate President Enrile is the presiding officer of the impeachment trial of Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona

Yesterday, Day 5, Enrile Moment-d.

Congressman Neil Tupaz, lead counsel for the prosecution, asked that the court become more “liberal,” but cannot explain what he meant. Enrile declared he is doing his best to be fair to both sides (and he really is), and if anybody wants to replace him, he will gladly step down, and he banged the gavel.

In one masterful sweep, Juan Ponce Enrile has established and solidified his image as a senior statesman through that elegant speech. 

Go Manong Johnny, go!

Day 4 of Impeachment Trial

Day 5

  

Artists of The Week

English OPM: Calvin Millado

Tagalog OPM: Junior

Beyond OPM: Art Garfunkel