It is still premature to predict the outcome of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona since seven more Articles of Impeachment will be presented, Malacanag deputy spokesman Abigail Valte said on Sunday.

To speculate that Corona would be acquitted based on the poor performance of the prosecution is not right, Valte said during an interview with state-run radio dzRB.

“We are still discussing Article 2, we have seven more articles,” she added.

“It’s still premature [to tell what the verdict of the Senate impeachment court will be]. Unti-unti pa lang nila natatahi ang kanilang kaso [The House prosecution team are still consolidating their case against the Chief Justice],” Valte said.

The prosecution has been discussing Article 2 for three weeks already, which alleges that Corona “committed culpable violation of the Constitution and/or betrayed public trust when he failed to disclose to the public his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth as required under Section 17, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution.”

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, also the presiding officer of the impeachment court, said that the prosecutors were having difficulty in directly examining witnesses.

Today, the prosecution’s request for issuance of a subpoena for Corona’s supposed bank accounts will be taken up in caucus but the defense is objecting since the request touches on the “illegal-wealth” clause, which the senator-judges have struck down.

“The important thing here [in the request being granted], is that the evidence comes out…[Bureau of Internal Revenue] Commissioner Kim Henares will still be cross-examined, we [are] yet to see the whole picture,” Valte insisted.

She said that Henares will show how inadequate is Corona’s income for him to be able to buy pieces of property, including high-end condominium units.