THE PEOPLE’S VERDICT. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan's Sheena Duazo holds a placard that states the people's guilty verdict on Chief Justice Renato Corona, in a picket, Tuesday afternoon, along Davao City's San Pedro Street. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)
With a 20-3-0 vote against CJ Corona, Davao Today asked Davaoeños what they think of the guilty verdict on the Chief Justice and if the Senate impeachment court decision would now pave the way to transparency in Philippine government.
By LEIGH E. DALUGDOG, JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA, MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN & TYRONE A. VELEZ
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Tuesday, May 29, was a historic day for the Philippine republic as the rules of impeachment against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, the first ever completed impeachment trial in Philippine history, was finally decided.
Filipinos were glued to their television and radio sets, and used the social media, especially Facebook and Twitter, to air their comments while the 23 senator-judges, as mandated by the Philippine Constitution, presented the reason of their decision and their most-awaited vote of either guilty, not guilty or abstain.
With a 20-3-0 vote against CJ Corona, Davao Today asked Davaoeños what they think of the guilty verdict on the Chief Justice and if the Senate impeachment court decision would now pave the way to transparency in Philippine government.
Excerpts:
“It is a landmark case where the even applicability of the law for the powerless and the powerful alike is confirmed. It will certainly raise the bar on transparency in public service!”
— Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, Ateneo de Davao University President
At the outset, I am one of those who decried the manner by which the CJ was appointed by former PGMA. As such, I am joining the people in expressing my relief over the 20-3 senate vote in favor of conviction/impeachment in spite of the prosecution’s haphazard and lousy handling of its case. I must say that the recent impeachment proceeding has shown effectively a showdown between and among the ruling elites and relegating the Filipino people to the background. We have the president eager to impeach CJ corona at all cost — ultimately choosing the issue of SALN non-disclosure over the more substantive issues of ill-gotten wealth and corruption and CJ Corona’s complicity in crimes and offenses committed by GMA. We also have senators who conveniently took on the SALN non-disclosure article as the issue least prejudicial to their own vested interests; there is also the group of the former president, on a desperate move to cover its tracks and prevent the downfall of their principal. If at all, the impeachment proceedings have strengthened the proposition that the Filipino people must rely wholly on their strength in combatting corruption and fighting for good governance.”
— Atty. Angela Librado-Trinidad, former Davao City Councilor
“Yes, this is a turning point in the country’s history. Reforms in the administration of Pres. Aquino have already started which made us leap 10 ranks higher from no. 85 to no. 75 in the World Economic Forum. I hope this historic event will pave the way for the much needed reforms in the judiciary so our country can truly unleash its potentials and regain the trust and confidence of our neighboring countries and of the entire world.”
— Hon. Isidro Ungab, Davao City Congressman (third congressional district)
NO TO AQUINO SUPREME COURT. As Chief Justice Renato Corona is convicted and removed from office in a 20-3 votes by the senator-judges, Tuesday, progressive organizations in Davao City call for vigilance against a Supreme Court that favors the Aquino government. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)
“A very important political process has been accomplished. Now, the legislators must go back to the work that awaits them. The next step is to prosecute GMA. After all, the CJ was seen to be a stumbling block to her conviction. Now, PNoy must have the same political will to pursue corruption cases against GMA.”
— Hon. Luz Ilagan, Gabriela Women’s Party Representative
“CJ can now be prosecuted civilly and criminally. He will be held accountable for his acts while in public office. But, beyond that, from now on, a new standard for public accountability is set. Beyond his conviction and removal, we must now run after the others in the government who are also equally unfit to serve like CJ Corona.”
— Atty. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao Secretary General
“Conviction is the only justifiable resolution to this “historic” trial. While the majority of the public affirm to the decision of the impeachment court, we do not also stop to speculate that all these legal acrobatics were perpetuated because of political revenge. So the burden now lies on the administration to prove that the trial was not a mere political machination but rather an act that truly upholds transparency. Allowing the proper agencies to probe on the wealth and lifestyle of public officials, even if they are not in question, is one concrete step.”
— Ardee Delola, TV Writer and Producer
“We, foremost, respect the decision considering that both sides have presented their sets of evidence in the impeachment trial. Convicting Corona guilty is an important process to also convict Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The impeachment trial is good democratic exercise. It doesn’t assure absolute transparency in the governance. It, however, is vital in our campaign for transparency. Our clear gain is judicial maturity.”
— Atty. Leah Librado-Yap, Davao City First District Councilor
“The decision speaks the truth that justice in the land of the Philippines is fair to all Flipinos regardless of the status in life. I have high hopes and pray that the Philippine justice have taken off for a change towards transparency on governance.”
— Dr. Edward Aquino, Commission on Higher Education-XI Director
“He (CJ Corona) should be convicted. But this doesn’t mean the Aquino government is leading us to a transparent government. Pres. Aquino has to prosecute CJ Corona’s boss, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. We challenge the Aquino government to resolve people’s issues: genuine agrarian reform, jobs, wages, and human rights.”
— Sheena Duazo, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Mindanao Spokesperson
CONVICT CORONA. Davao City militants stage a picket rally along San Pedro Street, Tuesday, while the impeachment decision versus CJ Corona is handed down. They call for the conviction of the Chief Justice and for the prosecution of former President Gloria Arroyo. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)
“The trial was fair. It was a right move. However, it does not assure transparency in government. Corruption is endemic in the system of bureaucrat capitalism.”
— Rey Cuizon, Educators’ Forum for Development
“It’s the people’s victory that CJ Corona is convicted. It is now a challenge for PNoy to prosecute Gloria Arroyo.”
— Romualdo Basilio, Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Secretary General
“It’s a victory for the entire Filipino people who are seeking genuine justice, transparency and accountability against corrupt and oppressive officials in the government. The victory rests solely to the Filipino people and definitely not to Pres. Aquino. The result also serves as a challenge to Aquino to prosecute former Pres. Arroyo. We will continue our militancy to fight corruption and injustices of the government.”
— Cherry Orendain, Anakbayan-Southern Mindanao Spokesperson
“The event will have a good effect in the image of transparency among our leaders but it’s not a total guarantee unless they all live what they fight for.”
— Sr. Jo Encarnacion, Assumption College of Davao Sunday School Department
“I once worked in the government and have complied with the SALN requirements and declared every asset which was in my possession accordingly and so i expected him (CJ Corona) to do the same. Knowing that he is the Chief Justice, he must uphold and execute the laws of the land without a hint of prejudice. On the other side, it’s a mixture of legal jargon and drama by no less than the ruling elites that put forward their interest and have relegated the interest of the “poor,” in the same vicious cycle of poverty and social ills.”
— Leah Jabilles, RSW
“While I think it was immoral for the Chief Justice to be ‘hiding’ huge amount of money, as it only tickles our suspicious minds, I think the decision was underlined with the colors of politics. I am not still resolved to the contention that a misdeclared SALN is an impeachable offense. But he was a midnight appointee of the past corrupt and immoral president and I believe that the Filipino people deserve someone far better than he is. For that, it’s a good riddance. Will it pave the way for transparency? It has to. We have to take it from Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. Her “wag kayong magpapanggap na malinis, mga artista” was more of a challenge, in fact. Politicians, however, have mastered the game of hiding their wealth. They must be too careful now. Will that pave way for transparency? I doubt it.”
— Jeffrey Tupas, TV5-Davao News desk Editor
“The conviction of CJ Corona is not totally a surprise. The Aquino administration, the Liberal party and its cohorts moved heaven and earth to unseat the SC chief justice while mainstream media conditioned the public of his guilt. This should not take away, though, the fact that Corona, on the other hand, has shielded Arroyo from prosecution. Thus, a guilty verdict is acceptable. Corona’s guilty verdict should not be the requisite for transparency in the government. Transparency and modesty has long been a provision of the Constitution. Public officials especially the 188 members of congress who signed the articles of impeachment should then show to the public that they have really sought accountability and transparency by signing waivers authorizing the disclosure of their bank accounts.
The Aquino government is now bereft of any alibi not to prosecute Arroyo for high crimes. As of the moment, the case filed against her is minor if compared to the more glaring wrongdoings that she has done during her nine-year reign. The effort to push for more transparency should not be used as a propaganda tool to redirect the people’s attention from the more basic issues of low wages, high prices etc. Corona’s impeachment should not derail the implementation of the Hacienda Luisita ruling. At the end of the day, the real issues of the day are over and above transparency. After all, the anti-corruption drive would not put food on the table of struggling Filipino households nor will Corona’s impeachment.”
— Omar Bantayan, Labor Advocate
“The removal of Chief Justice Corona should serve as beacon towards transparency in governance. His act in signing a waiver of the secrecy of his bank records is a first in this country and therefore should serve as an example to other public officers, most especially to his accusers. While I have reservations about the reasons advanced by the Senators to justify his conviction, I have to respect it knowing that the Constitution has arrogated unto the Senate the sole power to try and decide impeachment cases. It is, however, likewise imperative for our people to demand from Corona’s accusers the same high standard upon which the Senate based its conviction of Corona. All public officers, therefore, must reveal to the public all their assets and liabilities and if possible, explain how they acquired them. If this is followed then we can truly say that we have learned from Corona’s odyssey.”
— Atty. Israelito Torreon, Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Davao Governor
Well, he deserves it if he cheated by not declaring his assets and money.
— Dionesio Joao Tarepe, Fashion Designer (Chardin)
The senator-judges made a historic event in the country, as this is the first time that a chief magistrate has been removed in the office through impeachment. The verdict given by most of the senator judges was merely political. Evidence may have been the basis of their decision, but in my opinion, by merely looking at them, the senators are covering their own faces to win the masses for their personal gain. Nonetheless, Senate President Enrile proved to the end his fairness towards the impeachment process.
— Paul Ritchie Pelos, former Dean of Nursing, Holy Child
