Politics Watch in the Philippines: The Conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona via Impeachment

The unforgettable date in the annals of Philippine history on May 29, 2012 added the name of the Chief Justice Renato Corona as the first judge magistrate to be convicted by the senator-judges due to his inaccurate declaration of his SALN (Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Network).

The 44 grueling days of the quasi-judicial court of the Philippine Senate started as the House of Representative upon the initiative of Ilocos congressman Rodolfo Fariñas, filed cases against Corona on the basis that the chief justice committed a crime in omitting his dollar-account based on Article II of the Philippine Constitution.

At the start of the impeachment proceedings, I welcomed the daily Corona-vela (as the media coined it as in telenovela) with indifference, because the case can also be tackled by the Ombudsman or the branch of the justice department which is in-charge with cases against government employees.

The only notable person during the entire hullabaloo at the quasi-judicial court of the senate is Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who's now being petitioned by the Filipino international community in the United States of America in order to prevent her from sitting at the International Court at the Hague, Netherlands due to his frank, unedited and hazardous remarks.

I will never forget how chief justice Corona brought himself at the makeshift court of the Senate. He defied all proceedings by just having an oratorical speech of 3-hour denial against his accusation, admittance of having a huge dollar account of US 2.4 million and 80 million 700 thousand pesos account in his name.

Who can ever forget his proud utterance: "I moved that the chief justice of this country be excused from this court." (or something t this effect)? He left the court without the expected cross examination. As the sergeant at arms of the court and his men followed the man, they've been able to return him sitting on the wheelchair provided by the court.

This only aggravated his being accused as 'liar'.

And the verdict of the senator-judges...20 for 'guilty' and 3 for 'not guilty'.

I only concentrated watching the available television set at home during the decision day of the impeachment.

Sidelights: Due to trial by publicity and the disgust being hurled by the present administration to the midnight appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (now being hospital arrested at Philippine Veterans Hospital), I confirm my notion that the guilty verdict will be uttered by the senators.

1. Edgardo Angara

2. Joker Arroyo

3. Alan Peter Cayetano

4. Pia Cayetano

5. Franklin Drilon

6. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada

7. Francis Escudero

8. Teofisto Guingona III

9. Gregorio Honasan

10. Panfilo Lacson

11. Lito Lapid

12. Loren Legarda

13. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

14. eSergio Osmeña III

15. Francis Pangilinan

16. Aquilino Pimentel III

17. Juan Ponce Enrile

18. Ralph RectoLiberal

19. Bong Revilla

20. Miriam Defensor-Santiago

21. Tito Sotto

22. Antonio Trillanes IV

23. Manny Villar

24. (vacant) - because Benigno S. Aquino III was inaugurated as President of the Philippines last June 30, 2010.

Since the decision of the senator -judges were delivered by them, one by one, I will never forget those more-than-two-minute speeches, with notes or just an impromptu utterances.

From the humble and simple message of Senator Lito Lapid ( a high school graduate), to a very meaningful and mind-opening extempo of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and to the very vocal and mind-pounding revelation of Senator Miriam-Defensor Santiago, the political climate of the country is up to a very revealing goal: rooting out institutional corruption that will help quicken the pace of economic reforms (one of the agenda of P-noy).