Emasculating Online MediaWhile the public, most especially media, was busy following the Corona impeachment trial, legislators were pushing measures that would undermine journalists’ work of making government officials accountable, which senator-judges declared as the major accomplishment of the just-concluded political exercise.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines alerted the media community on three legislations: Sen. Edgardo Angara’s Senate Bill 2965, An Act Protecting Individual Personal Information in Information and Communications Systems in the Government and the private sector; House Bill No. 5808, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; and House Bill 5831 which proposes the amendment of Article 359 of R.A 3815, the Revised Penal Code.
Angara’s SB 2965 also seeks to create a national data protection commission.
'Culpable violation of the Constitution'In a vote of 20-3, the impeachment court declared Chief Justice Renato Corona “Guilty” of having committed “culpable violation of the Constitution and/or betrayed the public trust when he failed to disclose to the public his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth as required under Sec. 17, Art. XI of the 1987 Constitution.'Tinatanggap ko na po ang kalbaryong aming pinagdaanan.'
Under the Rules of Impeachment, there is no appeal. He is thus immediately removed as chief justice
The charge was number two of the Articles of Impeachment. The senate-turned-impeachment court did not find it necessary to vote on the two other charges.
Those who voted “Guilty” were: Edgardo Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Teofisto Guingona III, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson,Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Sergio Osmeña III, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel III, Ralph Recto,Tito Sotto, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., Antonio Trillanes IV, Manuel Villar, at Juan Ponce-Enrile.
Those who voted “Not Guilty” were Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Ferdinand Marcos,Jr.
Mario Ignacio of VERA Files compiled some images he captured during the almost five months of impeachment trial by Chief Justice Renato Corona which is…
House prosecutor Rodolfo Fariñas on Monday described as “palusot” (excuse) Chief Justice Renato Corona’s explanations on why he did not declare some of his assets, including multimillion peso and multimillion dollar accounts, in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).
Fariñas said Corona made several excuses in his impeachment trial: that he was being persecuted because of President Aquino’s loss of Hacienda Luisita, that he had been collecting dollars since the late 60s, that he need not declare his dollar deposits and peso deposits because it would violate Republic Act 6426 and because they are commingled funds.
Brady confirmed May 30, 2012. Thanks to GMANews online.There are times when things have a way of falling into place.
Malacañang has announced the appointment of a China old hand, Sonia Brady, as ambassador to China which was made possible by the withdrawal of businessman Domingo Lee, whose primary qualification was a friend of the President’s parents.
Sen. Serge Osmeña, a member of the Commission on Appointments, had raised questions about Lee’s competence for the important position. Lee has been given the title of special envoy to China for tourism affairs. A perfect position for him while he sports the title “ambassador.”
Another Fil-Chinese businessman, Cesar Zalamea, has also been named special envoy for trade affairs.
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President wanted “someone who is already familiar with the politics and culture of that country. That person can hit the ground running.”
An old China handGMA News
As Panatag boils, Aquino appoints career diplomat as envoy to China
During one of the Philippines’ worst diplomatic crises in recent history, a stand-off with Asian superpower China, talks have been hobbled by the lack of an ambassador in Beijing.
President Benigno Aquino III has finally appointed one, career diplomat Sonia Brady, a China veteran who had already been ambassador there from 2006-2010, as well as a young consul in the 1970s.
She is also a former ambassador to Myanmar and Thailand.
Aquino’s previous appointee, family friend Domingo Lee, could not be approved by Congress’ Commission on Appointments because some senators had questioned his qualifications.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Saturday Aquino appointed Brady to be the ambassador to China with concurrent jurisdiction over North Korea and Mongolia.
'Yes, I have a clear conscience."Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Friday denied the allegations made by Chief Justice Renato Corona that she was “used” by Malacañang to present documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) regarding the chief justice’s dollar accounts.
“I was never ever used by Malacañang,” Carpio-Morales told reporters in a press conference.
“Hindi ako magpapagamit. I have been trying to be impartial. I have been trying to be fair. I have been trying to be impervious to influence and I’d like to believe I succeeded,” she said.
Carpio-Morales said she felt “maligned” by Corona’s statements against her, adding that she will let the public judge who between them is telling the truth.
“He asked me if I have a conscience. Yes, I have a clear conscience. I hope he has a conscience and it is as clear as mine,” she said.
Corona returns to the SenateChief Justice Renato Corona on Friday admitted having US$2.4 million, including interest earnings since the early 1970s, plus P80 million in co-mingled funds.
“I never, at any time, had 10, 11 or 12 million [US] dollars,” Corona said, denying a claim by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales that he had “transactional balances” of $10 million-$12 million in his dollar accounts.
Answering questions from senator-judges, Corona said his dollar accounts now total $2.4 million. He said he began investing and trading in dollars since the late 1960s when he was still working with the private sector.
Blocked from leaving the SenateThe walkout by Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona sealed his fate: he will be convicted.
During his three-hour narration, wherein he didn’t mince words against those he perceived were maligning him including President Aquino, whom he scornfully referred to as “hacienderong Pangulo”, he kept on complaining about his detractors undermining the rule law and bastardizing due process.
“Binababoy nila ang proseso ng Saligang Batas para yurakan ang aking mga karapatan,” he said.
As chief justice, Corona should be the embodiment of the rule of law. His office enforces judicial code of conduct and the Code of Professional Responsibility for lawyers. He knows that a witness, which he was on May 22, does not leave the witness stand without being discharged by the Presiding judge.
Update: Impeachment court won’t wait for Corona, who is now at the ICU of Medical City. Enrile gives defense up to Friday to present their evidence. Oral arguments will be on Monday. After that, voting. Thanks to Inquirer.net for photo
Just when it seemed that Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona had scored with his almost three -hour long testimony, complete with tearful moments, at his impeachment trial he walked out of the trial!
He just declared: “And now, the Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to be excused.” Then he left the session hall.
A surprised and annoyed Presiding Judge Juan Ponce-Enrile ordered all the Senate building’s exit closed.
What a day!
My friend Marilyn Robles remarked: “Naluma ang theatrics ni Manang Miriam. May paiyak-iyak pa.Ayan nagalit si Manong Johnny.”
Dean Nilo Divina of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, who is one of ANC’s panelists, said it beats any Korean telenovela.
