By TJ Burgonio, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Chief Justice Renato Corona skipped a key meeting with his lawyers Sunday, telling them to make it a “family day,” a sign, they said, that he “wants to prepare on his own” for his much-anticipated appearance in his impeachment trial tomorrow.

Corona has been sifting through documents and “recalling facts” for his defense on the main charge of nondisclosure of assets, including an alleged $12 million in bank accounts, said Rico Paolo Quicho, a spokesperson for the defense.

By Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star)

There is no need for Chief Justice Renato Corona to sign a waiver on his bank accounts because he will address all issues related to these deposits when he testifies in his impeachment trial at the Senate tomorrow, defense lawyers said yesterday.

Corona’s spokesperson Karen Jimeno said that since the chief magistrate himself would take the witness stand, it will be useless for him to sign any waiver.

By Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com

Chief Justice Renato Corona will not be alone on Tuesday as he faces the most difficult obstacle yet in his life and career.

Besides his wife Cristina and children Carla and Francis, expected to join him as he goes to the Senate are some court officials and employees, judges, prayers warriors as well as farmers of the Hacienda Luisita.

By LBG, GMA News

Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona on Sunday claimed they went to Malacañang last Thursday to “verify" supposed news of withdrawals being made from Corona’s bank accounts and his wife leaving for abroad.

House deputy speaker Lorenzo Tañada III said they went to the Office of the Executive Secretary to supposedly seek help in verifying the information.

By ROY C. MABASA, Manila Bulletin

Expressing “concern,” the Russian Federation declared it is against any meddling by nations other than the claimant-countries in the South China Sea (or West Philippine Sea) territorial dispute, a Russian diplomat said over the weekend.

“This is our official position,” said Russian Federation Ambassador to Manila Nikolay Kudashev told the Manila Bulletin at his official residence in Forbes Park, Makati City.

By Philippine News Agency

Assuring the Filipino people of full transparency, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles said over the weekend the final peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be first publicized before it is signed by the government peace panel.

“There are no hidden agenda when it comes to the government’s negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or with any group, for that matter,” Deles told civil society organizations during a forum in Zamboanga City.

By LBG, GMA News

A Malacañang aide on Sunday maintained the Palace gag order on the trial of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona still stands – but not before bashing on government-run radio the defenses made by the respondent's lawyers.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Palace has not lifted its gag order but insisted it was commenting only on evidence already presented before the Senate impeachment court.

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer

Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) votes as a herd in elections, but it never dips its fingers in politics, a member of the religious sect said on Sunday.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, an INC follower, said he was “offended” and “outraged” by the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s report on Saturday that INC officials had been seeing senators to lobby for the acquittal of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.

By JAIME PILAPIL REPORTER

Although the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal is not a tourist destination and only fishermen have ventured into the area, Malacañang on Sunday imposed a travel ban to “preserve the ecosystem.”

“The government has decided to prohibit fishing in Bajo de Masinloc and within one nautical mile of Bajo de Masinloc for the sole purpose of making sure that we preserve the ecosystem. Let’s allow the ecosystem to flourish first.