Prelude to the verdict: Corona’s emotional speech not convincing

"Television is an emotional medium and it works best when it prompts an emotional response rather than when it tries to persuade us with rational argument" says Paul Heath, president of Ogilvy and Mather Asia, a respected ad agency. He knows whereof he speaks because his company produces commercials that convince consumers to buy their clients' products.

That's why telenovelas have more viewers than talk shows. Viewers, most of who belong to the CDE economic class, empathize with the battered wife or the abandoned child. They are not moved by a panel discussion on the Scarborough Shoal controversy.

Testifying, or rather speaking lengthily (more than three hours) at his much anticipated appearance at the impeachment court, Chief Justice Renato Corona attempted to use the powers of television to get the sympathy of the millions of viewers by tugging at their hearts.

Speaking in Pilipino, he claimed that he and his family are the oppressed party because of the well-planned machinations of the Aquino administration to remove him from the Supreme Court. He cited the unfavorable decision handed down by the high court on the Hacienda Luisita case as the main reason behind the President's concerted action against him. He also lambasted the prosecution for presenting manufactured evidence.

When he devoted more time to addressing the Filipino people than presenting evidence to the court that he was innocent, I got the feeling that he had no intention to be cross-examined by the prosecution or questioned by the senator-judges.

Did Corona make his case?

I have no idea whether the Chief Justice was able to convince the public that he is the aggrieved party in this case. By devoting three hours to his opening statement, some viewers may have disregarded his emotional appeal and switched channels. He may also have convinced some viewers that for him to sign the waiver to his bank deposits, the 188 congressmen who signed the articles of impeachment and Senator Franklin Drilon should also execute a waiver.

What shattered his credibility was his "walk out" after his testimony. Although his lawyers explained later that the Chief Justice had experienced hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, he did not ask permission from the presiding officer, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to leave the witness stand. Instead, acting as though he was in control of the proceedings, he said, "Now, the Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to be excused," and abruptly left the session hall.

As far as his hypoglycemia is concerned, there was a video of him exiting the session hall without any assistance. He seemed physically well and he had gone straight to the elevator to get to his car. He was unable to do so because the senate's security people stood in the way. That's the other power of television. It shows events as they happen, leaving viewers to conclude that the Chief Justice was trying to make a clean getaway.

By this action, Corona not only showed disrespect for the senators but also cast doubts on his testimony, rather, his opening statement. If he was indeed telling the truth, he should have welcomed the opportunity to be cross examined by the prosecutors and answer questions from the senators. He was forced to return to the session hall in a wheelchair and looking or acting dazed.

Senate President Enrile reacted angrily to the walkout and asked the defense to present the Chief Justice last Wednesday or his testimony would be stricken and the court would decide based on submitted evidence.

Hypoglycemia? Heart attack? What?

Later, it was reported that he had been taken to Medical City to treat his hypoglycemia. Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez told ANC that Corona may have suffered a heart attack. Of course, that is still unconfirmed. He may really have a medical condition that may prevent him from returning to the Senate.

But people are bound to wonder how convenient for him that this happens right before he is supposed to be cross-examined. They may also remember government officials who conveniently got sick when subpoenaed to appear at the Senate.

Last Friday, a chastened Chief Justice returned to the Senate for cross examination and apologized for what happened. His lawyers had told media that the doctors were against the Chief Justice returning to the Senate because of his medical condition but their client insisted on going against doctors' advice. He explained that his blood sugar dropped and he could not continue his testimony.

Of course, he did not explain how he managed to leave the session hall without any assistance and proceeded to the fire exit to get to his car instead of proceeding to the clinic.

The prosecution decided not to cross examine him probably because it wouldn't look good badgering a sick person on TV. Instead, it was the senators who asked clarificatory questions with Senator Jinggoy Estrada eliciting the admission that the Chief Justice did not declare his dollar deposits because of the law on confidentiality and his pesos because they were comingled accounts.

My next post will deal with the closing arguments and the verdict of the senator-judges.