Posted by admin on May 31, 2012
“WAH!”
This was the brief comment of House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s explanation of her acquittal vote on ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona. (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 31, 2012
THE Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) will convene on Monday to discuss the selection process for the next Chief Justice, a position vacated by Renato Corona this week after he was removed by the Senate.
“The Chief Justice vacancy is up for discussion in JBC’s agenda,” acting Supreme Court spokesperson Gleoresty Guerra said in a text message to Sun.Star. (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 31, 2012
There is no need for President Benigno Aquino III to sign a waiver to open his bank accounts for public scrutiny, said Malacanang on Thursday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that like any other government officials, the President’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) already has a waiver that authorizes the Ombudsman to look into it. (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
MAY 29 now holds an exceptional place in history books as it is the day that a government official was convicted by an impeachment court.
The long and demanding Corona Trial that has made a bench seat in the international scene has finally come to a burly ruling. (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
CHIEF Justice Renato Corona ended his opening statement before the Senate impeachment court by saying, “And now the Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to be excused.”
He stood up and left the court without being discharged as a witness but was prevented from leaving the Senate. (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
BY A VOTE of 20 to 3, the Senate sitting as impeachment court found Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona guilty of culpable violation of the Constitution for his failure to declare all his assets in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). Only one conviction is needed in any of the three Articles of Impeachment deliberated upon by the impeachment court.
The senators went on nominal voting and each of them was given a few minutes to explain his or her vote. Those who found Corona guilty of violating Section 17, Article II of the 1987 Constitution for not declaring all his assets in his SALN were the following: (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
THERE appears to be a positive aspect in the impeachment trial that ended yesterday regardless of whether one is for or against the chief justice (CJ). The trial did open our outlook on the importance of understanding and knowing our laws as they are applied and implemented equally to all of our citizens.
It is quite ironic, if it does not appear masochistic, to glory over the conviction of CJ Renato Corona and the resultant misery he and his family may have suffered. But justice should be well-served and defined if we are to expect equal treatment from fellow citizens, and if we should not be taken advantage of by others. (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
CHIEF Justice Renato Corona wasn’t even in the judiciary yet when the Supreme Court dismissed a Davao court interpreter in May 1997. Her offense: failing to reveal in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) that she owned a market stall.
Senators who voted yesterday to convict the chief justice repeatedly invoked the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling in Rabe vs. Flores. (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
President Benigno Aquino III is expected to issue a statement Wednesday in relation to the Senate’s conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
The President will hold a press conference in Malacañang after his engagement in Zambales for the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) graduation rites. (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
Being the most senior magistrate, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio is set to do the functions of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was removed by the Senate last Tuesday for not properly disclosing his assets.
Carpio’s installation as officer-in-charge is guaranteed by Rule 2, Section 2 of Administrative Matter no. 10-4-20-SC or the Internal Rules of the Supreme Court, which states that “in the absence of the Chief Justice, the most senior Associate Justice present shall chair the session of the court.” (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
The Supreme Court will hold a special en banc session at 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, to discuss the vacancy in the position of Chief Justice following the ouster of Renato Corona.
Twenty of the 23-member Senate impeachment court convicted Corona on Tuesday for failing to declare his peso and dollar deposits in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
Several Filipinos who monitored Tuesday’s “promulgation” of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment case considered the guilty verdict handed down by the Senate as fair, impartial and restores public confidence and trust in court.
Thousands of Filipinos from different areas in the Philippines and even outside the country monitored Tuesday’s developments in Corona’s impeachment trial through radio, television, and even online at www.sunstar.com.phand social networking sites. (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
PHILIPINE Airlines (PAL) cabin crew union hailed on Wednesday the conviction of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona by the Senate impeachment court.
The Flight Attendants and Steward Association of the Philippines (Fasap) played a part in the impeachment campaign and the group accused Corona of meddling in the illegal retrenchment case of 1,400 PAL flight attendants. (Read more)
Posted by admin on May 30, 2012
A MINORITY leader in the House of Representatives defended Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. for his guilty verdict on ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was appointed by a senior member of the Lakas-Kampi.
Revilla, president of Lakas-Kampi, delivered the 16th guilty vote on Corona on Tuesday, which sealed the deal for his immediate ouster as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for non-disclosure of all his assets. (Read more)
How the Senator-Judges voted on Article II (Concealing of some of his properties and cash deposits in his SALN |
|
| Senators | Vote |
 Edgardo J. Angara |
"I may grant the CJ plea of honest mistake of judgment but given his broad experience in public law…this willful and deliberate admission together with magnitude of amounts involved amounts to culpable violation." |
 Joker P. Arroyo |
NOT GUILTY "Impeachment is a political process not a political assassination" |
 Alan Peter S. Cayetano |
"If your client cannot explain, I cannot abstain."
|
 Pia S. Cayetano |
"Minor inaccuracies in the SALN...would not amount to betrayal of public trust. But, the failure to declare 2.4 million dollars and some P80 Million pesos is not minor...Once that trust is gone, we must step down to preserve the integrity of the position we hold." |
 Miriam Defensor Santiago |
"An omission in good faith in the SALN carries a light penalty, and is even allowed to be corrected. Thus, it is not impeachable...I find it reprehensible that the AMLA document was introduced in evidence, without authentication, as required by the Rules of Evidence." |
 Franklin M. Drilon |
"Where our Constitution and our laws require disclosure, he chose the path of concealment. He has lost his moral fitness to serve the people. He has betrayed the public trust. He cannot be Chief Justice a minute longer. " |
 Juan Ponce Enrile |
"With all due respect, I believe that the Respondent Chief Justice's reliance on the absolute confidentiality accorded to foreign currency deposits under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6426 is grossly misplaced." |
 Francis G. Escudero |
"Ang pinagbabawalan ng FCDU law na mag-release ng impormasyon ukol sa dollar deposits ay ang mga bangko at di ang depositor. Samantala, ang Konstitusyon at R.A. 6713, pinag-uutos na ideklara ng lahat ng opisyal ng pamahalaan ang lahat ng kanilang yaman at pagkakautang. Kung ayaw mo ito ideklara, eh di huwag kang tumakbo para sa, o tumanggap ng anumang, pwesto sa pamahalaan. " |
 Jinggoy Estrada |
"I regret to say that I am not convinced. Because the Chief Justice is a learned man of law. He is in fact, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court - isang opisyal na hindi lamang malalim ang kaalaman sa batas, kundi isang opisyal na may tungkuling basahin kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng mga batas." |
 Teofisto Guingona III |
"We must protect sanctity of Constitution. Corona's non-disclosure of assets is constitutional perversion in its ultimate form." |
 Gregorio B. Honasan II |
GUILTY "We have not proven if the defendant is corrupt. What is clear is that he is no longer fit to preside over the SC." |
 Panfilo M. Lacson |
"Chief Justice Renato Corona used to work as a senior officer of the tax and corporate counseling group of the tax division of a prominent accounting firm, Sycip Gorres and Velayo and Company. He also taught commercial law, taxation and corporate law at the Ateneo de Manila University for 17 years. I find it hard to believe his testimony that he does not understand accounting." |
 Manuel M. Lapid |
GUILTY "Akala ko totooo ang sinabi niya hindi pala. Pinapaniwalaan ko pa si Congressman Fariñas." |
 Loren B. Legarda |
GUILTY "Truthful SALN disclosure is key element of transparent governance..Public trust is earned through transparent, often voluntary, gestures of honesty by officials in question." |
 Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. |
"The Chief Justice sufficiently addressed the accusations against him with regard to the filing of his SALN, and the disclosure of his real properties and peso and dollar deposits." |
 Sergio R. Osmeña III |
"There is more reason to apply the law when the assets in question amount to P180 million...Nowhere in that FCDU law not allow depositors from disclosing their deposits." |
 Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan |
"As a lawyer and an officer of the court, it pains and saddens me to say that clearly the Chief Justice displayed a disturbing pattern of dishonesty, willful concealment, and evasion and a blatant and wanton disregard of the provisions of the Constitution on the SALN...Respect for the rule of law will only be realized if punishment is swift in a fair trial." |
 Aquilino“Koko” Pimentel III |
GUILTY "There is evidence on record that shows respondent Corona didn't declare in his SALNs his properties. Arguments of respondent do not persuade this senator-judge." |
 Ralph G. Recto |
"The undeclared assets are so huge that it cannot be pressed aside as innocent exclusion" |
 Ramon Revilla, Jr. |
"Through his own direct admission, the Chief Justice failed to properly disclose all his assets in SALN" |
 Vicente C. Sotto III |
GUILTY " True judgment must come from the people"
|
 Antonio F. Trillanes IV |
"The claim of commingled funds and confidentiality of dollar deposits will never be accepted as alibis. From now on, no one's untouchable. " |
 Manny Villar |
"Nahirapan man ako sa aming desisyon, paniwala ko kailangan talaga ideklara and dollar accounts." |
