Palace still confident of a Corona conviction

Malacañang is still confident that Chief Justice Renato Corona will still be convicted by the Senate impeachment court despite the recent developments favoring the nondisclosure of the embattled chief magistrates’ dollar accounts.

“We believe that despite the limitations accepted by the Senate from the Supreme Court, the impeachment trial will continue to bring to light evidence to prove the guilt of the Chief Justice,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press statement Monday.

Lacierda issued the statement after Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, the presiding officer in the ongoing impeachment trial, announced that the chamber has voted 13-10 to abide by the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order on the examination of Corona’s dollar accounts.

“The truth will emerge.” Lacierda said. “The issues remain joined. There is much more evidence to present. There are many more fights left before the day of judgment comes.” 

Lacierda said despite its decision to prevent the production of evidence concerning Corona’s dollar deposits, the Senate will vigorously defend its assertion that it has sole authority to try and decide impeachment cases.

“In the words of the Senate President, [they] will argue the case on its merits before the high court,” he said.
 
He added the Senate’s decision closed the door on the defense walking out of the proceedings and headed off any attempt to entice the Corona-led Supreme Court to put an end to the impeachment trial.
 
“From the very start, the defense has maneuvered to give the impression that a constitutional crisis is inevitable. They no longer have a pretext to make this claim,” said Lacierda.
 
He added the evidence thus far presented, in the form of cash accounts and luxury properties, showed that Corona has not rendered a faithful accounting of his assets and liabilities as required by law.
 
“The Senate has categorically stated evidence on peso accounts has been validly produced. As more evidence of this nature is produced, it can only underscore how the Chief Justice willfully broke the law,” he noted.
 
He further said that everyone is conscious that the impeachment trial is establishing precedents that will affect not only the outcome of this process, but future processes, to exact accountability.
 
“Surely the intention of the Senate is not to embolden those with ill-gotten wealth, to salt away their funds in foreign currency accounts,” Lacierda said. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News