How the House impeached Corona in a day

December 12, 2011, another turbulent day in Philippine political history 8:30 a.m. – At the Supreme Court's flag-raising ceremony, Chief Justice Renato Corona bares an "oust plot" against him, but does not reveal who is behind it. 2:30 p.m. – Members of the majority coalition gathered inside Andaya Hall of the House of Representatives for a caucus. At the start of the meeting, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. gave his opening statement. Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales explained the House leadership’s stand on Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment. Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. gave a presentation on the articles of impeachment. 4 p.m. – House majority members begin exiting Andaya Hall. Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin Remulla said members of the majority were asked to voluntarily sign the impeachment complaint against Corona. Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño divulged that Corona is being impeached based on three offenses: betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption and culpable violation of the Constitution. 4:40 p.m. – House majority ends caucus. Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., House justice panel chair, enumerates articles of impeachment to the media, and revealed that more than 100 lawmakers have already signed the complaint. ACT Teachers’ party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said congressmen lined up to sign the impeachment complaint. 5 p.m. – House Minority Edcel Lagman criticizes the majority’s move to impeach Corona, describing it as “the mother of all blackmails.” He claimed that lawmakers who signed the complaint were threatened that their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or "pork barrel" will be withdrawn if they will not approve Corona’s ouster. 5:10 p.m. – Belmonte, Gonzales and Tupas hold a press conference to explain how the House majority decided to send the impeachment complaint against Corona straight to the Senate for trial. At the end of the briefing, more than 160 lawmakers had already signed the complaint. House Secretary General Marilyn Baura-Yap also begins verifying the signatures on the complaint. 6 p.m.— Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez warns of the "bad design" of the Aquino administration to remove its opponents from government posts. He said Corona is being pressured to step down from his post, similar to what happened to former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who quit her post days before she was scheduled to face a Senate trial. 7:16 p.m. – Copies of the impeachment complaint were released to the media. 7:30 p.m. – At the House plenary, Gonzales moves to endorse the impeachment complaint, which was signed by a total of 188 congressmen, to the House secretary-general. Deputy Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, who was presiding over the session, ordered the House secretary-general to transmit the complaint to the Senate despite opposition from the House minority. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK/HS, GMA News