Monday, February 6, 2012

Corona Impeachment Trial


The Unfolding of the Trial:

Drilon issued on Nov. 28, 2011 a widely circulated press release, using the Senate’s stationery, entitled “Drilon: Corona voted in favor of Arroyo in all 19 cases brought before the Supreme Court.” It was the most comprehensive—even if fallacious—brief alleging the Chief Justice’s bias for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Only a few meters separated them but the gap seemed so wide as President Benigno Aquino III yet again attacked the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Renato Corona in a nationally televised public forum (First National Criminal Justice Summit held at the Manila Hotel on Dec.5,2011.)

Aquino’s rift with Corona goes back a long way, starting with his opposition to Corona’s appointment as head of the Supreme Court during the tail-end of the Arroyo administration. Aquino even refused to be sworn in by Corona during his inauguration.

Congressmen from the ruling Liberal Party (LP) have no plans to initiate impeachment moves against Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was recently criticized by President Benigno Aquino III for his supposed impartiality. On Tuesday, Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo, LP deputy spokesperson, said talks on impeaching Corona within the administration party are still “premature.” “Walang nagpa-file sa atin ng kaso. Wala pa naming naghahain. Hindi natin masasabing merong grounds for impeachment. Hindi rin natin masasabing wala,” Quimbo told reporters at a press conference. (GMA NEWS - Dec.6)

Mr. Aquino declared that the assault against Corona is the Liberal Party’s “brightest moment.”

Mr. Aquino’s forces quickly changed tack to the headline-hogging charges of corruption. This paper’s Jan. 4 banner headline screamed: “Corona penthouse bared.” On Jan. 8 the headline said: “CJ can’t afford condos.” On Jan. 13: “45 Corona assets eyed.” On Jan. 14: “Corona assets worth P200M.” On Jan. 20: “CJ SALNs undervalued.” Corona’s denials of course never made banner headlines.

On 12 December 2011 during closed-door caucus, 188 congressmen, or just over three-quarters of the House of Representatives signed in a blitz the Articles of Impeachment against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona deliver his speech on Wednesday, December 14, 2011, and noted that he will not resign and will face point by point the impeachment case before the Senate.

Conrado De Quiros is correct in saying that Chief Justice Renato Corona is a “huge roadblock on the daang matuwid, one that government has to remove first before getting to Arroyo.” (Inquirer, 12/20/11)

"The impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona is the mother of all blackmails...The Supreme Court justices are being blackmailed not to decide pending cases against the Aquino administration, otherwise the wrath of impeachment will be on them," House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said.

The articles of impeachment against Chief Justice Renato Corona were brought to the Senate on the morning of December 13, less than a day after he was impeached at the House of Representatives in a blitz.

The Corona impeachment Trial commenced last January 16,2012 after the Senate Holiday break.