CJ Corona's Opening Statement - Day 40 Impeachment Trial

If you missed the Opening Statement of CJ Renato Corona during the Day 40 of the Impeachment Trial on May 22, 2012 at the Philippine Senate, you can watch the whole proceeding below via GMA 7 and Youtube:

Chief Justice Renato Corona Resigns

Hours before the impeachment proceedings against him at the Philippine Senate and amidst the World Bank's accusation of misused loan for judicial reforms, Chief Justice Renato Corona resigned from his post as Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court. According to sources, Corona could no longer bear the false accusations against him and his family. He eventually succumbed to public pressure to halt further "dirt" to his reputation and defamation to his family.

Well, the above scenario is what the prosecutors wish that Chief Justice Corona does before his impeachment at the Senate tomorrow, January 16, 2012. Whether the wish will come true or not, let us wait and see!

Impeachment and Warrant of Arrest

Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona

Impeachment is a formal process in which an appointed or elected government official is accused of unlawful activity with the purpose of removing such official from his/her post and imposing other punishment.

The impeachment of former President Joseph E. Estrada was one of the most popular impeachment proceedings in Philippine history. Although the process was not completed, he was removed from office through EDSA People's Power Revolution and was in detention until he was pardoned by his predecessor, former President-in-Question Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Now, the ball is rolling on the midnight appointee and Arroyo's protege Chief Justice Renato Corona. During the administration coalition caucus held at the EDSA Shangrila Hotel in Mandaluyong City today, President Noynoy Aquino said that CJ Corona had "hampered several moves of his administration to reform the government and fulfill its promise to the people to hold accountable those who have erred during the past administration." PNoy mentioned the dumping of the Truth Commission by CJ Corona which was the President's first Executive Order. He also recalled the issuance of Corona's status quo ante order, banning the House of the Representative to continue the process of impeaching former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

It was also note taking that the public dismay of PNoy of CJ Corona was first aired during the justice summit last Monday, December 5, 2011. In this conference, PNoy humiliated Chief Justice Corona by citing his midnight appointment by then PGMA and his infamous decisions on Malacanang moves on reforms.

As in the lodging of electoral sabotage case against PGMA and the subsequent issuance of warrant of arrest to the former lady leader, the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday at the House was swift. It only took less than 45 minutes to get the signatures of 188 representatives, more than the required 1/3 of what was needed to proceed the impeachment to the Senate. Today, December 13, 2011, the impeachment complaint was handed over to the Senate.

Ex-Comelec Chief Benjamin Abalos

Also on this day, the anticipated warrant of arrest of former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos was issued by the Pasay Regional Trial Court , five days after an electoral sabotage case was filed there. Abalos voluntarily surrendered to the authorities today, the same act he did last week. However, his lawyers are already in the process of filing a motion for house arrest. Abalos is expected to be detained at the Southern Police District.

Pasay RTC Judge Jesus Mupas

Last week, Judge Jesus Mupas issued the warrants of arrest against Lillian Suan-Radam, Yogie Matirizar and Capt. Peter Reyes of the Intelligence Service of the AFP. Radam and Martirizar told DOJ that Abalos ordered them to rig the results of the 2007 senatorial elections.

The congressmen who favored the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona are as follows:

1.      Tupas, Niel Jr.

2.      Umali, Reynaldo

3.      Abaya, Joseph Emilio

4.      Del Rosario, Antonio

5.      Bag-ao, Arlene

6.      Teodoro, Marcelino

7.      Castelo, Winston

8.      Arago, Maria Evita

9.      Golez, Roilo

10.     Lacson-Noel, Josephine Veronique

11.     Cerilles, Aurora

12.     Calixto-Rubiano, Emi

13.     Bello, Walden

14.     Hataman-Salliman, Jim

15.     Catamco, Nancy

16.     Lanete, Scott Davies

17.     Valencia, Rodolfo

18.     Noel, Florencio

19.     Mendoza, Mark

20.     Gatchalian, Rex

21.     Gonzales, Aurelio Jr.

22.     Ferrer, Jeffrey

23.     Fuentes, Daisy

24.     Yu, Victor

25.     Rodriguez, Isidro Jr.

26.     Angping, Zenaida

27.     Espina, Rogelio

28.     Ramos, Deogracias Jr.

29.     Cortuna, Julieta

30.     Zamora-Apsay, Maria Carmen

31.     Garay, Florencio

32.     Mercado, Roger

33.     Roman, Herminia

34.     Garin, Janette

35.     Gonzales, Neptali II

36.     De Venecia, Gina

37.     Cojuangco, Enrique

38.     Herrera-Dy, Bernadette

39.     Loong, Tupay

40.     Bernos, Ma. Jocelyn

41.     Sahidulla, Nur-ana

42.     Balindong, Pangalian

43.     Guanlao, Agapito

44.     Garcia Albano, Mylene

45.     Arenas, Ma. Rachel

46.     Cojuangco, Kimi

47.     Yap, Susan

48.     Go, Ana Cristina

49.     Alvarez, Antonio

50.     Tomawis, Acmad

51.     Ungab, Isidro

52.     Go, Arnulfo

53.     Magsaysay, Eulogio

54.     Sacdalan, Jesus

55.     Malapitan, Oscar

56.     Sakaluran, Raden

57.     Alvarez, Mercedes

58.     Benitez, Alfred

59.     Ferriol, Abigail Faye

60.     Treñas, Jerry

61.     Sarmiento, Mel Senen

62.     Joson, Josefina

63.     Fuentebella, Arnulfo

64.     Lapus, Jesi

65.     Olivarez, Edwin

66.     Gomez, Lucy

67.     Lopez, Carlo

68.     Mendoza, Joselito

69.     Cerafica, Arnel

70.     Climaco, Maria Isabelle

71.     Robes, Arturo

72.     Relampagos, Rene

73.     Apacible, Tomas

74.     Miraflores, Florencio

75.     Haresco, Teodorico

76.     Fortuno, Salvio

77.     Paras, Jesus

78.     Agyao, Manuel

79.     Acop, Romeo

80.     San Luis, Edgar

81.     Maliksi, Erineo

82.     Loyola, Roy

83.     Palmones, Angelo

84.     Almonte, Jorge

85.     Javier, Paolo

86.     Ocampos, Loreto Leo

87.     Lico, Isidro

88.     Celeste, Jesus

89.     Ping-ay, Jose

90.     Singson, Ryan Luis

91.     Payuyo, Ponciano

92.     Belmonte, Vicente

93.     Bulut-Begtang, Eleanor

94.     Cosalan, Ronald

95.     Collantes, Nelson

96.     Quimbo, Romero

97.     Vergara, Bernardo

98.     Gonzalez, Fernando

99.     Arquiza, Godofredo

100.    Lagdameo, Antonio

101.    Ferrer, Antonio

102.    Quisumbing, Gabriel

103.    Asilo, Benjamin

104.    Alfonso, Baby Aline

105.    Arnaiz, George

106.    Ting, Randolph

107.    Teves, Henry

108.    Daza, Raul

109.    Violago, Joseph

110.    Villarica, Linabelle Ruth

111.    Chipeco, Justin

112.    Batocabe, Rodel

113.    Garbin, Alfredo Jr.

114.    Limkaichong, Jocelyn

115.    Madrona, Eleandro

116.    Sarmiento, Cesar

117.    Kho, David

118.    Ortega, Francisco Emmanuel III

119.    Montejo, Neil

120.    Estrella, Robert

121.    Garcia, Albert

122.    Aggabao, Giorgidi

123.    Abayon, Daryl Grace

124.    Puno, Roberto

125.    Barzaga, Elpidio

126.    Eriguel, Eufranio

127.    Velarde, Mariano Michael

128.    Tieng, Irwin

129.    Piamonte, Mariano Jr.

130.    Pancho, Pedro

131.    Plaza, Maria Valentina

132.    Salvacion, Andres

133.    Emano, Yevgeny

134.    Dayanghirang, Nelson

135.    Mendoza, Raymond

136.    Biron, Ferjenel

137.    Enverga, Mark

138.    Cabaluna, Salvador III

139.    Mercado, Homer

140.    Zubiri, Jose III

141.    Antonio, Patricio

142.    Cua, Dakila

143.    Velasco, Lord Allan Jay

144.    Acharon, Pedro Jr.

145.    Evardone, Ben

146.    Abad, Henedina

147.    De Jesus, Emerenciana

148.    Palatino, Raymond

149.    Tinio, Antonio

150.    Briones, Nicanor

151.    Colmenares, Neri Javier

152.    Casiño, Teodoro

153.    Cajayon, Mary Mitzi

154.    Lopez, Carol Jayne

155.    Banal, Jorge

156.    Alcala, Irvin

157.    Benaldo, Benjo

158.    Cabilao Yambao, Jonathan

159.    Tañada, Lorenzo III

160.    Unabio, Peter

161.    Paez, Cresente

162.    Bataoil, Leopoldo

163.    Bagatsing, Amado

164.    Ledesma, Julio

165.    Sema, Bai Sandra

166.    Amatong, Rommel

167.    Garin, Sharon

168.    Crisologo, Vincent

169.    Umali, Czarina

170.    Dy, Napoleon

171.    Rivera, Michael

172.    Belmonte, Feliciano

173.    Nava, Joaquin Carlos

174.    Ejercito, Joseph Victor

175.    Jaafar, Nur

176.    Primicias-Agabas, Marlyn

177.    Del Mar, Rachel

178.    Ponce Enrile, Juan Jr.

179.    Golez, Anthony

180.    Mariano, Rafael

181.    Unico, Renato Jr.

182.    Bonoan, Trisha

183.    Bautista, Franklin

184.    Salimbangon, Benhur

185.    Durano, Ramon VI

186.    Cruz-Gonzales, Cinchona

187.    Tugna, Sherwin

188.    Angara, Juan Edgardo (signed the complaint but said he abstained

because his father, Senator Edgardo Angara, will be a judge in the

impeachment court)