Category: Corona Impeachment

Guilty!

Published by Ellen on May 29, 2012

Statement of President Aquino included in this article.

Presiding Judge Juan Ponce-Enrile — '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.

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.

Images of an Impeachment

Published by Ellen on May 29, 2012

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…

Fariñas’ ‘Palusot, most compelling in closing arguments

Published by Ellen on May 28, 2012

Fariñas: Several ‘palusots’ in CJ defense
ABS-CBN News Online

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.

Ombudsman denies being ‘used’ by Palace

Published by Ellen on May 25, 2012

by Jon Carlos Rodriguez, ABS-CBNnews.com

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.

Coronas’ cash: US$2.4M plus P80M

Published by Ellen on May 25, 2012

Chief justice says he won’t resign

By Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com

Corona returns to Senate — Corona returns to the Senate

Chief 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.

Corona faces conviction

Published by Ellen on May 24, 2012

Corona attempting to leave Senate2 — Blocked from leaving the Senate

The 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.

Corona disassembles

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2012

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.

Corona may 22 at impeachment trial — 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.

Ombudsman probers: Corona wealth up to P677M

Published by Ellen on May 16, 2012

Corona to finally take witness stand on May 22

By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Chief Justice Renato Corona may have accumulated a total of P677 million in unexplained wealth, including “more or less” $10 million, from 2001 to 2012, investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman said in a report.

Corona is scheduled to finally take the witness stand at his trial in the Senate impeachment court on May 22 to answer the allegations against him.

The panel of investigators, formed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to look into complaints that Corona may have accumulated ill-gotten wealth, summed up their findings as follows:

A net increase of P8,970,980 in Corona’s net worth.

Mindboggling Corona $ assets: 82 accounts in 5 banks; $12 M ‘fresh deposits’

Published by Ellen on May 14, 2012

Corona ‘fresh deposits’ more than $12M—Ombudsman
By Maila Ager
INQURER.net

Chief Justice Renato Corona has “fresh deposits” amounting to more than $12 million, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Monday told the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court.

“I think my computation which was arrived at with the assistance of a CPA (certified public accountant) lawyer is that fresh deposits, which means they never moved, they remained in that particular (account) amounted to more than 12 million dollars…,” Morales said, based on the report furnished to her by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Morales gave the statement when Senator Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. asked whether the total amount of Corona’s alleged dollar deposits in 82 accounts totaled $10 million.

“It’s even more,” said the Ombudsman in response to Marcos’ query.

Lagman’s head for Enrile’s vote in Corona impeachment

Published by Ellen on April 22, 2012

Juan Ponce Enrile — Does not forget and forgive

Poor Gus Lagman. He didn’t know what hit him.

Never did he imagine that we would be a collateral damage in President Aquino’s rabid pursuit to make Gloria Arroyo accountable for her crimes against the Filipino people.

As a commissioner in the Commission on Election, never did it cross Lagman’s mind that he would be a factor in the impeachment against Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, which is related to Aquino’s crusade against Arroyo.

Last week, Communications Strategy Secretary Ricky Carandang announced that the President would not issue an ad-interim appointment for Lagman, who has not been confirmed by the Commission on Appointments, chaired by Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile because they have been informed by CA members that “ it will be difficult, if not impossible, to confirm him.”