MANILA, Philippines — The prosecution now has eight senator-judges on its side, while the defense panel has five.

This was the assessment of former Senate President Ernesto M. Maceda who has been watching the trial proceedings since it started last January 16.

Despite this, Maceda said that chances of embattled Chief Justice Renato C.Corona to get acquitted are a little better.

Asked how many senators have already made up their minds may even before they sit down to decide the fate of Corona, Maceda said, “Don’t’ ask me but I would say eight for the prosecution, five for the defense.”

“But remember, this means the prosecution has to get eight (votes of senator-judges) more. The defense will get only need three more,” he added.

“If my assessment is correct, 8-5 medyo maganda ang position ng defense,” he said. (At 8-5, the position of the defense looks bright.)

In deciding the fate of Corona, the 23 senators will decide whether it is for conviction or acquittal.

The eight are considered allies of President Benigno S. Aquino III who is openly seeking the conviction of Corona.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said the Constitution also states that admonition is also one of the forms of punishment for the respondent.

The prosecution panel had expressed hopes that the trial might be over before the March Holy Week period.

Assessing what transpired last Wednesday and last Thursday, Maceda said the reason the trial is slow is too many senator-judges asked too many questions.

“Some of them, in effect, are being lawyers for the prosecution, like Senator Franklin M. Drilon and for the defense, like Senator Joker Arroyo,” he pointed out.

He said other senators ask questions that had been settled at their closed door caucuses or were not listening but still stand up just to be seen on TV.

“Then they are badgering the witnesses. Like Pascual Garcia (president of Philippine Savings Bank). Senator Drilon asked this and that. Garcia replied but Drilon shot back by telling him do not give us a lecture. The fellow is trying to explain. Many times a witness wants to explain but the senator-judge says… no, don’t lecture, don’t debate with us. Answer yes or no. That is unfair to the witness,” Maceda said.

“There is something wrong (with the way) senator-judges are conducting themselves,” he added.

Asked whether who has the edge in the celebrated trial of the Chief Justice, Maceda said “it is early to tell.”

He cited instances when the defense scored points against the prosecution. There were also instances that prosecution had the edge.

“The bottom line is that this is a political process. Senators will be deciding not principally on the merits of the case but on their political agenda,” he said.

A two-thirds vote of the entire member of the 23-man Senate or 16 senators are needed to convict Corona.