PNoy to Corona: Face Senate impeachment trial  

(Update 4:44 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said Chief Justice Renato Corona should face the impeachment trial against him at the Senate as the country's chief executive vowed to do what is necessary to fulfill his oath to the Filipino people.

 

Meeting the 188 members of the House of Representatives who signed the impeachment complaint against Corona at EDSA Shangri La Hotel, Aquino said: "Ginoong Corona: sa Kongreso at Senado, harapin mo ang pinagmulan ng poder mo — ang taumbayan." Contrary to claims that the impeachment may weaken the Supreme Court, Aquino said what the lawmakers did was in fact to protect the tribunal from an alleged corrupt leader. “Hindi po tayo magpapamana sa susunod na salinlahi ng isang Korte Supremang pugad ng katiwalian,” he added.    

 

Aquino said Corona will have his opportunity to defend himself from the charges filed against him when the Senate convenes into an impeachment court. Senator Franklin Drilon earlier said the trial may start January next year yet as Congress takes a break beginning Thursday.

 

“Ngayon po, sa harap ng tamang tanggapan, magkakaroon ng pagkakataon si Ginoong Corona na tugunan ang mga paratang, at panagutan ang diumano'y kanyang mga kasalanan,” he said.

 

“Lilitisin po siya sa ilalim ng isang prosesong magbubunyag sa taumbayan ng buong katotohanan ukol sa kanyang pagkakanulo sa tiwala ng publiko, at sa tahasang paglabag sa Saligang Batas."

 

Asked if he will personally make a pitch to senators to get a favorable decision, Aquino said: “I know what I’m supposed to do and I will do what is necessary to fulfill my oath of service to the Filipino people." Confident

 

He also expressed confidence on the impeachment complaint transmitted by the House to the Senate.

 

“Kumpiyansa ako sa hinaing kaso. The articles of impeachment embodies yung paniniwala nating kakulangan sa pamumuno ni Ginoong Corona at kanyang pinaggagawa na  naapektuhan and sambayanan,” Aquino said in an interview after his speech.

 

He believed the senators will also do their part.

 

“It follows kung matibay ang kaso, at inaasahan natin ang mga senador, na mga hinalal na kinatawan ng taumbayan, ay susunod naman sa tugon ng ating mga boss,” he said.

 

Also in his speech, Aquino thanked the congressmen for not dillydallying in fulfilling their duty to the Filipino people.

 

“Ipinakita ng ating lehislatura ang kakayahang ipagtanggol ang interes ng sambayanan nang walang paliguy-ligoy, nang may katapatan sa tungkulin, at nang may pagkilala sa pagdurusang dinaraanan ng taumbayan, na siya ninyong kinakatawan,” he said.

 

He even apologized to them for preventing them from filing the impeachment complaint early on.

 

“Nang-awat pa ako at some point in time at dumating nga ‘yung punto na napakarami na ng ebidensya na talagang napa-sang-ayon na ako na talagang hindi na pwedeng panatilihin ‘yung suffering o paghihirap na nai-inflict sa ating bayan,” he said. No chilling effect?  

The President believed the impeachment trial against Corona will not send a chilling effect to other SC justices who are true to their oath to the people.

 

“Kung tama ang ginawa ninyo eh ‘di maski saang korte sila dalhin ay kayang panindigan ‘yon. Pero kung hindi kayang panindigan, doon ka siguro kakabahan. Sabi nga ng mga nakakatanda sa atin: bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan na lang ang mamoblema,” he said.    

                                        

He also assured that his appointees in the high tribunal are not beholden to him.

 

“Bakit hindi ninyo tingnan ‘yung mga na-appoint ko na? Mayroon bang beholden? Have they voted everytime in our favor? Or perhaps even the perception of what I would have wanted as far as a decision is concerned? I think the justices themselves that I appointed will tell you (that they are no beholden to me),” he said.

 

Among Aquino’s appointees are Justices Maria Lourdes Sereno, Bienvenido Reyes and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

Cue from PNoy  

Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II said Aquino agreed to meet with the House members to thank them for their support to his government.

 

He said the members of the Liberal Party, headed by Aquino, took their cue from the President’s speeches on the matter recently.

 

“They expanded it into the coalition and formally decided to support the President,” Roxas said in an interview with reporters.

 

He denied that the support on the impeachment complaint is tied with the release of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) more commonly called as pork barrel.

 

“Nothing, they are supporting the President. There will always be allegations, there will always be charges and counter charges. What blackmail are they saying? All releases have been made. That's political rhetoric,” Roxas said. Early in his speech, Aquino joked that he will leave behind Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. This elicited applause from the congressmen so the President said: “I wanna make sure his report to me is correct that 92 percent of what you authorized us to spend has already been disbursed, ano. And if that is not correct, please call me up later.” — RSJ, GMA News