Senators distance themselves from Corona speech vs PNoy

Published December 14, 2011 5:49pm

Senators who will sit as judges in the impeachment trial against Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona have refrained from commenting on the speech delivered Wednesday by the impeached magistrate against President Benigno Aquino III.

In a speech delivered before court employees and supporters who gathered in front of the Supreme Court in Manila, Corona vowed to resist efforts to oust him from office.

Taking an apparent swipe at Aquino, Corona said. "Itong mga itinatanim niyang gawain ay siguradong mamumunga lamang ng isang diktadura; isang diktadura na nagmula sa paglilinlang at paglalason sa pag-iisip ng ating mga kababayan." But now that they have convened the Senate as an impeachment court, senator-judges are not expected to comment further on the row between the President and the Chief Justice.

"I won't make any comments one way or another. I do not watch TV, hear radio, read, I study the case, I study the rules, so that im ready to handle the trial of this case," Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile told reporters Wednesday.

On Monday, the House of Representatives impeached Corona for alleged graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.

A GMA News Online timeline shows how Corona was impeached in a day.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives transmitted the Articles of impeachment to the Senate.

For his part, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Corona should be allowed to answer the allegations made against him.

"Karapatan niya yun... na sagutin yung mga paratang dahil pinaratangan din siya sa publiko, karapatan niya lamang na sagutin sa publiko rin yung mga pinaratang sa kanya," Lacson said in a separate interview.

Sen. Bongbong Marcos likewise said he can't blame Corona for issuing such statements.

"Harap-harapan binabatikos siya, hindi lang batikos, ito nga eh inaatake na siya na dapat siyang iimpeach. Hindi naman kataka-taka na ang tao ay sasagot at kahit na sinasabi natin na yung trial na ito ay gaganapin sa harap ng mga senador bilang mga maghuhusga ay alam naman nating malaking bahagi ng trial na ito ay sa publiko ang bagsak at ihaharap kaya kailangan niya rin magsabi, malaman ng publiko ang kanyang posisyon, kanyang pananaw, at pag-iisip," he said in another interview.

But Sen. Koko Pimentel, who said he wished there would have been no need for the speech, said Corona should have just prepared his reply to the Articles of Impeachment.

"I have to comment except to advise him to formalize his answer by filing his written answer before the impeachment tribunal," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Senate convened as an impeachment court. It likewise issued the summons and Articles of Impeachment against Corona, who will have 10 days to reply.

The impeachment court will resume session on Jan. 16, 2012. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News

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