MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona does not intend to back down from the legal fight that the allies of President Aquino have brought to his own backyard, a member of the defense team said Thursday.

Defense spokesperson Karen Jimeno denied rumors that Corona was considering resigning after being pressured by his relatives, and maintained that he will “fight this battle head-on.”

“There’s no reason for him to resign, especially now that the prosecution has not yet shown any evidence to prove that Chief Justice Corona really is guilty of the charges lodged against him,” Jimeno said in a text message.

Reports that Corona will be stepping down from his post surfaced last Wednesday, on the sixth day of the impeachment trial.

During that hearing, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares testified the Corona’s wife, Cristina, bought an P11-million property in La Vista subdivision in Loyola Heights, Quezon City, in 2003 even if she had not declared any income prior to the transaction.

Corona’s friends and family were reportedly advising Corona to resign to prevent his family from being dragged into the case.

In dismissing the resignation rumor, Jimeno pointed out that the Chief Justice sees no reason for him to resign since he is not guilty of the charges hurled against him.

Even Corona, according to Jimeno, was surprised to hear such reports.

“Our camp has scored some advantages during the past hearings even as the defense has yet to present its case,” she said.

“I don’t know where the rumors came from. Chief Justice Corona doesn’t know where the reports came from. We had a breakthrough in yesterday’s hearing so there’s no reason for Chief Justice Corona to resign,” she pointed out.

Another member of the panel, Ramon Esguerra, denied the defense is using “smoke and mirrors,” referring to a magician’s tricks, at the trial, saying “we are in the profession of upholding the Constitution and defending the rights of CJ Corona. We are for what is right and doing it the right way.”

“The Defense Team has been prepared, we have not been the cause of delay since Day 1 and the live telecast of the impeachment proceedings is proof that “smoke and mirrors” is not our skill,” Esguerra said.