by magnolia_eic | May 30, 2012 | Headlines, National News
Former Chief Justice Renato Corona was given the guilty verdict yesterday by the Senator-Judges of the Impeachment Court under Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment alleging betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution. The votes came in 20 against 3.
A few hours after the verdict was given, Corona released to the media his official response to his conviction:
“Kung ito po ang ikabubuti ng ating bayan, tinatanggap ko na po ang kalbaryong aming pinagdaanan (If this will be for the better of our country, I am accepting this Calvary we’re going through),” he said.
“Dahil sa simula’t sapul naman ay handa na akong mag-alay ng sariling buhay para sa bayan (Because even from the start I was ready to sacrifice my life for the nation).
“Kung kaya, ipinapaubaya ko na po sa ating Poong Maykapal at sa taong bayan na higit na makapangyarihan sa ating demokrasya ang aking kinabukasan at ang kinabukasan ng ating Hudikatura (That’s why I am surrendering myself to the Lord and our people who are more powerful in our democracy, my fate and the future of our judiciary).”
Although Corona submits to the decision of the Impeachment Court, he however maintains his innocence and in his belief that he was a victim of politics.
by magnolia_eic | May 29, 2012 | Headlines, National News
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, Tuesday, passed a guilty verdict against Chief Justice Renato Corona. 23 Senators voted for conviction while 3 voted for acquittal.
The Senators voted on Article 2 of the Impeachment Articles alleging betrayal of public trust and or commission of culpable violation of the Constitution for the CJ’s failure to disclose alleged properties and bank accounts in his statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN) from 2003 to 2010.
Senator-Judges who voted for conviction were Sen. Edgardo Angara, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Franklin Drilon, Sen. Francis Escudero, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Teoofisto Guingona, Sen. Gringo Honasan, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Sen. Lito Lapid, sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Sergio Osmena, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, Sen. Ralph Recto, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., Sen. Vicente Sotto III, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Sen. Manny Villar and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
Voting otherwise where Sen. Joker Arroyo, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago and Sen Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.
The Chief Magistrate faced three of the eight impeachment articles filed last December by the House of Representatives. The Impeachment Court voted only on Article 2.
