By Christina Mendez and Edu Punay (The Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines - With final arguments expected to be delivered today by the prosecution and defense, the Senate impeachment court is expected to hand down its verdict on Chief Justice Renato Corona by tomorrow.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said yesterday he would recommend to his colleagues that they hand down the verdict tomorrow after studying the final arguments of both the defense and prosecution panels today.
“There might be a compelling statement or reason from either side. Some of us who have not fully made up (our) minds, unless (with) a good picture of the proceedings, cannot immediately decide. So to be fair to everyone, the day after would be the best option,” Sotto said in a radio interview.
Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez said the Chief Justice is ready to accept the verdict of the impeachment court.
“The Chief Justice has surrendered to God’s will,” Marquez said in a text message.
One of the senator-judges, Antonio Trillanes IV, hinted that he already had a decision on Corona.
“If you are still undecided at this point, still awaiting the closing arguments coming from the lawyers who are experts in arguing their case, then you cannot really decide for yourself for your life,” Trillanes said.
Trillanes expressed belief that at this point, even before the final arguments are made, some of the senator-judges have already decided on their votes.
“I believe most of our senator-judges have a position at this point, but the problem is we have to vote after the closing arguments. But who knows?” he said.
Sotto, on the other hand, said he would recommend to his fellow senators during the caucus today to have the vote on the verdict for tomorrow.
He said most of the senators are agreeable to his recommendation.
Corona needs an acquittal vote on all of the three remaining Articles of Impeachment, but a guilty vote on one of the three spells his expulsion from office and perpetual disqualification to run for public office.
Sixteen votes are needed for Corona to be found guilty while it would only take eight votes for an acquittal.
Sotto said the senators would cast their votes in alphabetical order, based on their surnames. Each senator will be given two minutes each to explain his or her vote.
Some senators reportedly met over the weekend to discuss issues pertaining to Corona’s case. Sources neither confirmed nor denied reports that they have reached a majority of 16 votes for conviction.
“The situation remains fluid, except for three or four senators who are for acquittal, there are others who are thinking hard before making the decision because they are also conscious on maintaining Senate’s independence from the executive,” a source said.
A number of senators are also reportedly aligning in preparation for their bids in next year’s 2013 midterm elections, sources added, to include their chances whether they stick with the administration party or go to the formidable United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) led by former President Joseph Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay.
In his interview with radio station dzBB yesterday, Sotto said each of the three Articles of Impeachment, namely Articles 2, 3 and 7, will be voted on separately.
If a verdict of “guilty” is reached in the first round on Article 2, the court will no longer proceed to Article 3. And if a “guilty” verdict is reached on Article 3, senator-judges will no longer have to vote on Article 7.
Since the penalty is removal from office and the accused can only be removed once, there is no need to ascertain the votes on other articles if a “guilty” verdict is reached in Article 2 or 3.
Article 2 deals with Corona’s alleged failure to fully disclose all his assets in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). There is widespread view that this Article 2 has emerged as the most crucial of the three, with much of the court’s focus having been devoted to it.
Article 3 questioned the competence, integrity, probity and independence of the Chief Justice because he allegedly allowed the Supreme Court to act on mere letters filed by a counsel which caused the issuance of flip-flopping decisions in final and executory cases, specifically the case involving the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines and the management of Philippine Airlines; and creating an excessive entanglement with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through her appointment of his wife to office.
Under Article 7, the Chief Justice was accused of betraying public trust through his partiality in granting a temporary restraining order on the hold departure order against Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo to allow them to escape prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Corona family and supporters are still optimistic of the outcome of the impeachment trial, Marquez said.
“We continue to pray for his acquittal,” he said.
Marquez said Corona remained in the hospital yesterday recovering from the hypoglycemic episode he had during the trial last Tuesday.
“He is now able to rest and sleep better, while doctors continue to monitor his condition,” he added. – With Edu Punay
MANILA, Philippines - With final arguments expected to be delivered today by the prosecution and defense, the Senate impeachment court is expected to hand down its verdict on Chief Justice Renato Corona by tomorrow.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said yesterday he would recommend to his colleagues that they hand down the verdict tomorrow after studying the final arguments of both the defense and prosecution panels today.
“There might be a compelling statement or reason from either side. Some of us who have not fully made up (our) minds, unless (with) a good picture of the proceedings, cannot immediately decide. So to be fair to everyone, the day after would be the best option,” Sotto said in a radio interview.
Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez said the Chief Justice is ready to accept the verdict of the impeachment court.
“The Chief Justice has surrendered to God’s will,” Marquez said in a text message.
One of the senator-judges, Antonio Trillanes IV, hinted that he already had a decision on Corona.
“If you are still undecided at this point, still awaiting the closing arguments coming from the lawyers who are experts in arguing their case, then you cannot really decide for yourself for your life,” Trillanes said.
Trillanes expressed belief that at this point, even before the final arguments are made, some of the senator-judges have already decided on their votes.
“I believe most of our senator-judges have a position at this point, but the problem is we have to vote after the closing arguments. But who knows?” he said.
Sotto, on the other hand, said he would recommend to his fellow senators during the caucus today to have the vote on the verdict for tomorrow.
He said most of the senators are agreeable to his recommendation.
Corona needs an acquittal vote on all of the three remaining Articles of Impeachment, but a guilty vote on one of the three spells his expulsion from office and perpetual disqualification to run for public office.
Sixteen votes are needed for Corona to be found guilty while it would only take eight votes for an acquittal.
Sotto said the senators would cast their votes in alphabetical order, based on their surnames. Each senator will be given two minutes each to explain his or her vote.
Some senators reportedly met over the weekend to discuss issues pertaining to Corona’s case. Sources neither confirmed nor denied reports that they have reached a majority of 16 votes for conviction.
“The situation remains fluid, except for three or four senators who are for acquittal, there are others who are thinking hard before making the decision because they are also conscious on maintaining Senate’s independence from the executive,” a source said.
A number of senators are also reportedly aligning in preparation for their bids in next year’s 2013 midterm elections, sources added, to include their chances whether they stick with the administration party or go to the formidable United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) led by former President Joseph Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay.
In his interview with radio station dzBB yesterday, Sotto said each of the three Articles of Impeachment, namely Articles 2, 3 and 7, will be voted on separately.
If a verdict of “guilty” is reached in the first round on Article 2, the court will no longer proceed to Article 3. And if a “guilty” verdict is reached on Article 3, senator-judges will no longer have to vote on Article 7.
Since the penalty is removal from office and the accused can only be removed once, there is no need to ascertain the votes on other articles if a “guilty” verdict is reached in Article 2 or 3.
Article 2 deals with Corona’s alleged failure to fully disclose all his assets in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). There is widespread view that this Article 2 has emerged as the most crucial of the three, with much of the court’s focus having been devoted to it.
Article 3 questioned the competence, integrity, probity and independence of the Chief Justice because he allegedly allowed the Supreme Court to act on mere letters filed by a counsel which caused the issuance of flip-flopping decisions in final and executory cases, specifically the case involving the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines and the management of Philippine Airlines; and creating an excessive entanglement with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through her appointment of his wife to office.
Under Article 7, the Chief Justice was accused of betraying public trust through his partiality in granting a temporary restraining order on the hold departure order against Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo to allow them to escape prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Corona family and supporters are still optimistic of the outcome of the impeachment trial, Marquez said.
“We continue to pray for his acquittal,” he said.
Marquez said Corona remained in the hospital yesterday recovering from the hypoglycemic episode he had during the trial last Tuesday.
“He is now able to rest and sleep better, while doctors continue to monitor his condition,” he added. – With Edu Punay
