Erap: Corona luckier than me

Former President Joseph Estrada, whose impeachment in 2000 triggered his downfall from Malacañang, believes impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona is luckier than him.   Interviewed by reporters during the resumption of Corona’s trial in the Senate on Wednesday, Estrada said this is because the presiding officer in Corona’s trial, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, is fair and impartial.   "One thing I want to say, is that Chief Justice Corona is very fortunate than me because the presiding officer Senate President Enrile is very impartial, very fair," said Estrada, who sat as an observer during the day’s proceedings.   Estrada said the presiding officer during his impeachment trial, then-Chief Justice Hilario Davide, was part of a “conspiracy” to oust him from power.   "The only difference is the presiding officer. Kasi yung dating presiding officer, by the name of [former Chief Justice] Hilario Davide kasama sa conspiracy," he said.   Under the Constitution, the chief justice of the Supreme Court must preside in the impeachment trial of an incumbent president.   Article XI, Sec. 3(6) of the Constitution states that, “The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. When sitting for that purpose, the Senators shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the Philippines is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside, but shall not vote.” Estrada, who was elected to office in 1998, was impeached for allegedly receiving payoffs from operators of the illegal numbers game jueteng. The trial started in late 2000 but was eventually aborted when the senators voted not to open the second envelop purportedly containing damning evidence against Estrada. The incident prompted the prosecutors to walk out of the proceedings. Anti-Estrada groups then converged at the EDSA Shrine. The withdrawal of support by the military forced Estrada to vacate Malacañang. On Wednesday, Estrada said Corona is also luckier because his trial would not be cut short.   "Ito naman tatapusin dahil sinabi ni Senate President Enrile who is the presiding officer that he will not allow any walkout," he said, alluding to the walkout of public prosecutors during his impeachment trial.   Estrada, however, said he was sure he would have been acquitted had the proceedings continued. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News