Random Thoughts: Chief Justice Corona

Thursday, January 26, 2012

5:50 AM -

Supreme Court, ready to take down its “Corona”?

With all the flaws shown by the prosecution team in the ongoing impeachment trial of the Chief Justice Renato Corona, I doubt that the Chief Justice will be convicted.

For four times in a row (if I’m not mistaken), the prosecution team, led by Ilo-ilo Representative Niel Tupas has been denied by presiding officer, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. Cj Corona’s prosecutors were not knowledgeable enough to convict him. They sometimes messed things up with the impeachment trial. In the Day 6 of Corona’s trial, senator-judge Miriam Defensor-Santiago had a row with Tupas because the latter wanted BIR Commissioner Kim Henares to testify as a witness in the trial.

According to Senate President Enrile, most from the prosecution team lack knowledge regarding the proper proceedings of an impeachment trial. He described them as kids that needed to read books about the Rules of Court. Senator Enrile got mad with Tupas after he insisted Enrile to prohibit strict rules because “this was not a criminal proceeding but an administrative proceeding.”

“Ang gusto nila disciplinary actions. Kung disciplinary action ito, paano mo madidisiplina yung kataas-taasang hukom? Pangulo ng third branch ng gobyerno? Sino ka? Ibig sabihin niyan,itong mga batang ito ay kulang sa pag-aaral..” Enrile said in a radio interview.

He also said that in a state country, an impeachment trial is in the nature of a criminal case. “Kung hindi nila alam iyon, hindi ko na kasalanan ‘yon” he added.

Aquino administration undeniably hired low-class prosecutors that do not even know the difference between an attesting officer and an expert witness. This was opposing to what the president has said earlier that they will definitely condemn the Chief Justice. How then can they do that if the prosecution team were as intelligent and experienced as those in the defense panel? Even the senator-judges noticed.

Even if this trial will be a fair and just one, there’s still a chance that the truth will not be exposed, especially when the prosecutors were not good enough to win this case.

5:30 AM -

Chief Justice Corona,impeachment trial,judiciary

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CORONAVELA: The Trial Begins

As the year 2012 entered, a new breed of drama has dominated Koreanovelas and soap operas in the afternoon.

There is no doubt; more and more Filipinos get hooked with this “Coronavela”, a true-to-life story of the Philippines Chief Justice and his impeachment trial. A first in the country’s history, CJ Renato Corona faces his greatest enemy, the Philippine president, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, as he wrestle to retain his position and repair his damaged name.

Pilot episode aired last January 16, Monday, where an intellectual combat was witnessed between the prosecution team, who seeks for Corona’s conviction and the defense panel, seeking for Corona’s acquittal from the charges. Served as presiding officer was Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; while the 23 senators (only 21 were present on the first week of the impeachment) played the role of senator-judges.

The story revolves around Corona, who was accused of culpable violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption. As recalled, Corona’s name was attached with former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who too was accused with electoral sabotage, after he was appointed by the latter in his position. He also proposed a temporary restraining order that could have allowed the former president to leave the country for medical purposes. Maybe this was the reason why he was impeached then because shortly after the release of the TRO, the congress has proposed the impeachment of the Chief Justice.

And now, CJ Corona faces the charges of allegedly 45 owned properties in Metro Manila, marking the history of the Philippine politics, as it was the first time a chief magistrate was tried by an impeachment court.

The drama, televised by the three biggest networks in the country has definitely gained a lot of viewers and followers, from politically-involved personalities to “care-bears” and ordinary citizens. All has their own bet and opinion regarding the issue. However, the question still remains: Will Corona be acquitted or convicted? The answer is yet to come; not until the Senator-judges find him guilty.