Ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona was discharged from The Medical City on Saturday, where he had been confined for the past week.

GMA News ‘24 Oras’  quoted the hospital's corporate communications office as saying Corona left the hospital before 6 p.m. Defense lawyer Rico Paolo Quicho said Corona is headed back to his residence in Xavierville in Quezon City.

Quicho said Corona would still have to rest at home and avoid doing stressful activities. In a separate message to GMA News Online on Saturday, Quicho also assured the public that Corona "is feeling better now."

Corona was brought to the hospital after falling ill, following his much-awaited and lengthy testimony at his own impeachment trial at the Senate Tuesday last week.

Failing to have a meal before taking the witness stand, the diabetic Corona - who twice underwent a heart bypass -allegedly suffered from the effects of hypoglycemia.

After delivering his three-hour speech, Corona excused himself and abruptly walked away from the session hall even without being properly discharged by the impeachment. His actions were met with criticisms not only from the senator-judges, but also from the public.

Corona stayed in confinement at the Pasig hospital last Tuesday when he was meted a guilty verdict by the Senate for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution, stemming from his non-declaration of money and assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.

After being eased out of his post, Corona was replaced by the next most senior high court magistrate, now acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, who is set to convene the Judicial and Bar Council on Monday. The JBC is tasked to draw up a list of nominees for any vacancy in the judiciary, from which the President will choose. — Mark D. Merueñas/ELR, GMA News