Senators sitting as impeachment court judges flatly denied the allegation thrown Sunday night by defense lawyers of Chief Justice Renato Corona that the Office of the President has been enticing the senator-judges in the Corona Impeachment trial with P100 million each to buck the Supreme Court's Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on Corona's dollar accounts and, ultimately, to hammer out a conviction.

Defense lawyer Jose Roy had claimed in a press conference held at Club Filipino that, according to a "very reliable" source,  Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa was personally contacting the Senator-Judges and offering them the money.

"Let us wait for what they will do," said Roy.

The defense panel also denied speculations that their source is former Senator Francisco Tatad. "It is unfair to drag the name of Tatad. He is not connected with this information," lawyer Karen Jimeno said.

"We are telling the truth even if we get hit by lightning. It will be up to you to believe who is telling the truth," said lawyer Ramon Esguerra.

Senators Antonio Trillanes III, and Gregorio Honasan challenged the defense lawyers to reveal their source and show proper evidence.

"That to me is an irresponsible statement. I don't think it has any basis. They have to come up with something more than a statement like that," Honasan said.

"Smoke screen," said Trillanes. "They are using distractions. Unless they can prove it, they should not reveal anything that is baseless. It's unfair to the senators." he added that if the defense feels that what they have alleged is a culpable violation of the constitution, "then they could file an impeachment case against the President. For the senator-judges who are perceived to being influenced, it will be the public who will punish them through the next elections"

Senator Panfilo Lacson said that the defense team has gone out of bounds with their accusations against the Senator-judges. He said he will suggest that the defense lawyers be cited in contempt for their accusations.

The impeachment court is expected to deliberate Monday on the Supreme Court's TRO on the disclosing Corona's dollar deposits in Philippine Savings Bank.

acl/With reports filed by Patricia de Leon and Joyce Ilas