Some Senators who found Corona guilty committed worse crimes than what he was accused of

Filipinos won’t be able to move on from the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona for a while. First, some are still on high alert keeping tabs on the petitioning of President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III along with the rest of the public servants who haven’t done so to finally sign a waiver to open all their savings accounts to public scrutiny. It’s only fair, since they convicted Corona on that basis. Second, there are reports indicating that a five-page petition was filed before the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the whole impeachment process particularly the guilty verdict that was handed out by the impeachment court.

Whew! Call it post-partum depression on some people’s part but I guess political pundits like us will never run out of things to write about when Filipino politicians are involved. For sure, the impeachment trial will forever haunt Filipinos because of the gross violations on the Constitution committed by the prosecution and the way the Senator Judges merely turned a blind eye to these. It is another dark chapter in our Philippine history. Anti-Corona supporters might even claim that pro-Corona supporters simply can’t move on.

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I guess you can blame that on the prosecution for screwing things up to begin with by filing the hastily- and badly-written impeachment complaint and defying the law in the manner with which they presented illegally-obtained evidence against Corona almost from the very start. Furthermore, the brunt of the blame for the fiasco should be on the Senator Judges, most especially the presiding officer of the court for tolerating these violations. On that note, the impeachment court should have been/be charged for grave abuse of power.

Anyone who ever watched the television series Law and Order would know that a case that has been tainted with dubious evidence would be thrown out by any rational trial judge faster than the speed with which Senator Panfilo Lacson ran from the law in 2010 when he was allegedly implicated in the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer and the latter’s driver.

Most crime shows from First World countries show how, at times, investigators and public prosecutors can often be at loggerheads with one another on a case even before the charges can be filed in court. In many cases, the prosecutor may object to how the investigators gathered their evidence. It has been said that some members of law enforcement agencies like the police and other government investigators do dodgy work or take shortcuts on purpose. In some instances, they might even plant evidence just to speed up the process of securing an arrest warrant to bring in a suspect. When something is found to be amiss, a sharp prosecutor with foresight would warn the investigators that they cannot proceed with filing the charges because it would just get thrown out by the judge eventually. Sometimes it gets thrown out for lack of probable cause or for the simple reason that the investigation did not go through the proper procedure.

Even if a case makes it to court, a rational judge – a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court of justice – would apply the law with impartiality and equally to both prosecutor and defendant. Unfortunately, this was not the case during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona. In fact, the Senators who acted as “judges” could not apply impartiality during the course of the proceedings even if they tried because they are encumbered by major personal conflicts of interest.

Such notable conflicts of interest include, as reportedly pointed out by petitioners, former Assemblyman Homobono Adaza and lawyer Alan Paguia, the way several senator-judges “behaved like judges-prosecutors,” including Senators Franklin Drilon, Pia Cayetano, Kiko Pangilinan, Edgardo Angara, Aquilino Pimentel III, Jinggoy Estrada, Panfilo Lacson, Chiz Escudero, Teofisto Guingona III, and Serge Osmeña — all of whom voted to convict Corona. It is no secret that these senators are all allied with President Benigno Simeo “BS” Aquino. To quote the petitioners:

“They behaved… to the point of badgering witnesses, just so the points which could not be achieved by the House prosecutors could be obtained,” the petitioners said.

The two petitioners said these senators should have inhibited from the impeachment case because “by their conduct, they have shown bias, prejudice, partiality and lack of independence in Corona’s case.”

What is most interesting to note, something which actually went under most of our radars, is the fact that Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada were directly related to some Congressmen who signed the impeachment complaints against Corona. Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile is the first and only son of Presiding Officer Senator Enrile while San Juan Representative Joseph Victor Ejercito is the brother of Estrada. Of course let us not forget to mention again that there is also the father-and-son relationship of Senator Edgardo Angara and prosecution spokesman, Aurora Representative Sonny Angara.

A fair trial followed by a fair hangin’

Only those lacking in critical analysis would think that Corona wasn’t, for lack of a better word, screwed from the very start. In retrospect, it is apparent that the House of Representative and the Senate just went through the motions of the six-month impeachment procedure just so they wouldn’t be accused of not giving Corona some kind of process. It was a process, yeah; a process with all roads that led to how and where they wanted it to end — a conviction. There is also a Filipino term that can accurately describe what happened to Corona’s impeachment. It’s called “luto“. The reported gathering of six Senator-Judges at a dinner hosted by Sen. Loren Legarda the weekend before the closing arguments were made on Monday is a clue supporting the possibility there was a lack of independent analysis on the part of the judges when they came up with their individual verdicts.

Ironically, some sectors of Philippine society consider these Senators as heroes for convicting Corona; never mind that there was nothing heroic about what they did. It’s not like Corona was found guilty of plunder like former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, the father of Senator Jinggoy. Corona is not even a convicted mutineer like Senator Antonio Trillanes who won a Senate seat while he was in jail for the crime of rebellion. Corona wasn’t even a repeat offender like Senator Gringo Honasan who led a series of coup d’etat against former President Cory Aquino during her term and who managed to escape while incarcerated. Corona did not even fake his own assassination attempt the way Senator Enrile did in 1972. His act was said to have been used by then President Ferdinand Marcos to justify declaring Martial law. Senator Enrile was also a suspected co-conspirator in the election cheating done in the 1986 “snap elections”, which was said to have robbed then candidate, Cory of the election.

These genuine criminals were easily “pardoned” for what they did and are now in power. It’s a shame that these Senators even made Corona look like a monster after they convicted him for the perceived error in his SALN entries even though their crimes vastly dwarf Corona’s “crime”. Unfortunately, such is the fate of someone who does not know how to be a politician.

274 Replies to “Some Senators who found Corona guilty committed worse crimes than what he was accused of”

  1. Do as I say not do as I have done. And these clowns voted in by the Filipino people despite all those crimes being disclosed. No wonder we have a slacker as a president. No discrimination exercised by our voters. Not sure exactly why I am supposed to be proud to be pinoy. If that is the best we can come up with.

    1. The behaviour of the prosecution, majority of the Senators and their supporters is not something we can be proud of, indeed.

      1. i see the issue as simple as this:

        corona admitted having $2.4 dollars he did not declare because he was ‘protected by FCDA’ – the IC consider the dollars ‘assets’ which he can convert to peso and should be declared as his assets.

        he admitted he has P84 Million in the banks, P3.4 million of which he declared in his saln because the bulk of which were from BGEI and from his chilren. The Senate did not find his explanation credible because he could have declared all this P84 million as part assets and part liabilities. or the senate did not buy his explanation because it was odd that the parents should still be holding the money of grown-up kids.
        further, keeping the money of the BGEI, which should have been distributed to the owners of the BGEI, adds color to his being dishonest person.

        The IC found a pattern of non-disclosure of his assets and networth – he he got exposed. corona was given a fair playing field. the prosecution conduted a media war, and so did he.

        the game changer was his arrogance before the IC and his admissions of huge peso and dollar accounts which during the early phase of the trial, he had consistently denied.

        come to think of it, the IC could have not convicted corona from the evidence of the prosecution alone. he provided the ropes that hanged him when he called ombudsman morales to tesfify for him and when he admitted to his fortunes he did not declare.

        1. @jcc

          It wasn’t an impeachable offense, manong. As pointed out by Domingo Arong, the Ambassador to Syria was allowed to correct his SALN and keep his post because there is a provision in the law to correct whatever mistake in his SALN. Besides, a CPA-Lawyer even claims that Corona did not have to include his dollar deposits in his SALN:

          Estrella Martinez, a CPA-lawyer who served in the BIR for 32 years, on Thursday said Corona was under no obligation to reveal such accounts because of the Foreign Currency Deposit Act (Republic Act No. 6426).

          Martinez, an expert on SALNs having spent years at the BIR and with a master of law degree in taxation from the University of the Philippines, said foreign currency deposits have “no place in the SALN” because of the strict rules of RA 6426.

          That partly explains why, she said in a paper given to the Inquirer, “in all my 32 years as a tax collector, I have never encountered a government official declare his dollar deposits in his SALN.”

          “A dollar deposit cannot be declared as assets in the SALN because this will not affect his net worth,” she wrote. “It is of judicial notice that increase in net worth is taxable under Section 24 of the Tax Code, because net worth comprises such acquisition in ‘peso’ only.”

          Martinez added: “Some passive income, like interest on dollar deposit, has been subjected to a final withholding tax, which the dollar depositor is not mandated to declare in his income tax return or SALN. This dollar transaction will just appear in an alpha list submitted to the BIR.”

          Prosecution did not prove ill-gotten wealth so you can’t insist that it is ill-gotten. Bakit ba mas marunong ka pa? I bet that anti-Corona people like you know deep inside that Corona’s omission in his SALN is not really an impeachable offense, which is why you want the Ombudsman to proceed with the investigation on his wealth. You simply want to justify his conviction with something else. It’s so obvious that you want to pin him down with something that is not even there.

          You claim to have the moral high-ground over us and yet you exhibit vindictiveness. Tsk tsk.

        2. Ilda, this dud really has a comprehension problem.

          I thought this dud is not a lawyer but a legal researcher from an ambulance chaser.

          Heh he’s not disbarred, according to him, but he did not tell us that he was just suspended.

          And still , humihirit pa, unfair daw!

          He he he, this lawyer-vegetarian (read: abogado de patola).

          Pwe!

        3. @ILDA,

          Unfortunately, your interpreation of the law is different from the interpretation of the ic. but corona had his day in court (inside and outside). he fought a good fight but he lost.

          you can howl your voice in protest until you are blue, but it won’t change the guilty verdict.

        4. you can howl your voice in protest until you are blue, but it won’t change the guilty verdict.

          Manong, I merely write my observations. I was not one of those who filed a petition to overturn the guilty verdict. Basahin mo kasi yung article mabuti.

          I don’t understand your behaviour. You already got the result you wanted. Why are you still crying foul? What you need to do is at least acknowledge that the prosecution did not play by the rules. Like what I said in my previous article: Lessons from Renato Corona’s experience: Five tips on how to survive an impeachment trial

          I think the whole impeachment exercise can only be good for the Filipino people if some can finally accept that there were things that should not have been done. If the people who were against Corona continue justifying that the violations perpetrated by the prosecution were worth it because of the outcome, then our society will certainly regress instead of progress.

        5. @ilda,

          you cannot hide your frustration because despite your crowing for corona’s acquittal, the verdict was otherwise. now you want to move on by telling your readers that the decision was something to be ashamed of….

          but those who predicted his guilty verdict see it as something the filipino could be proud of. the 20 senators and other bloggers who are anti-corona are not necessarily anti-rule of law. corona had his day in court. he was processed and the result did not sit well with you. but you consider yourself right on the concept of the “rule of law,” “due process'” and other hyfalutin issues which are clearly beyond your pay grade… 🙂

        6. @jcc

          the 20 senators and other bloggers who are anti-corona are not necessarily anti-rule of law.

          Wala talaga. Filipinos will be forever stock in mediocrity if you guys keep insisting that the prosecution did nothing wrong. I can’t believe you are still proud of what they did. The least you could do is acknowledge that they broke the law in prosecuting Corona. But I guess you are too narrow minded to do that.

          BTW, you seem to be suffering from low self-esteem because you can’t stop gloating.

          Anyway, I’m glad I have your statements on record because in a few months or years or however long it takes for you to realise it, nothing significant will change. If you don’t believe me, just try to remember what happened after Edsa 1 & 2. Enjoy your perceived “win” for now. 😉

        7. yes ilda, nothing will happen several years from now because people like you are still around loathing and clawing at whatever little success people had achieved at good governance.

          by the way, ilda, please tell your attack dogs that i have no time to respond to their witless indignation at my person. i can only address you because i know that beneath that veneer of irrationality, lies some civility and honesty. you just have to open up and view politics and the world in all its stark realities. for once, please get real!

        8. @jcc

          Nakakatawa ka! Now you have an excuse if PNoy’s vindictiveness doesn’t end up achieving anything. Ang galing mo din. What was the point in removing Corona then?!? Your logic fails you again.

          Ciao! 😉

        9. Witless indignation? This dud JCC!

          Hey abogado de patola, you’re not obliged to read my comments if they’re discomforting you. Ignore them.

          I’m just exposing you as a fraud.

          This dud was insulting commenters here with his faux intellectus. As if comment readers here have to be thought of history that he felt he has uncovered through his accidental googling.

          As if he’s the first one who has uncovered that Julius Caesar was a gay but intentionally withholding the context of why is that practice common during that time.

          Even attempting to impress us with his prowess with words but failed in trying too hard. As if to perplex us with his use of the word “disconjuctive” and when exposed of his misused of the correct word, claimed that it’s just a typo error.

          Typo error!!!

          Just compare “disconjuctive” which sounds more sophisticated than the correct “disjunctive”.

          Pwe!

        10. corona had been a lawyer for a long period of time , his wife came from a rich family. he studied at ateneo that means his family has money knowing how expensive ateneo was.so pity that a man who was so brilliant will just pass away, just because he happened to be fighting for injustice (luisita farmers)against AQUINO.. OMG!!

    2. You’re right Gogs! …and methink before our nation can continue to move on, we must first try to solve our gigantic problem of “dumb voters”!!! They are practically the ones directing our destiny…!!

      1. Sad thing about Hacienda Luisita is this: The Conjuancos has retained the control of the Hacienda by fooling the farmers to form cooperatives/partnerships.

        Corona’s sacrifices just got lost… No thanks to the sitting SC Chief Justice who doesn’t even know how to count and couldn’t understand the meaning of “natural born” such that former natural -born who gave up their citizen has to undergo naturalization to become citizen again … indicating that he’s no longer a citizen by being a “natural born” but through the said naturalization process, entonces … NATURALIZED … no longer natural-born.

    1. Thank you Ilda for expressing what many of us feel about Enrile’s Kangaroo court. Is it true that the senator-judges graduated from Australia? That is the only country where they have kangaroos. I did not know Harvard offers a course on Kangaroo Court 101.

      1. @RF Garcia

        It looked like they were making up their own rules along the way. I did not understand why the Senators had to ask clarificatory questions in the first place. That actually contributed to the delay in the proceedings and gave the Senators who were biased against Corona a chance to help the prosecution.

        1. IIda thank you for your article.thank you so much.naawa ako masyado kay cj kaya lang as if i can’t do anything. me and my husband are senior citizens and we are following up the case of cj.mas maraming pa masahol dyan lalo na this 20 senator judges.

        2. That’s the brand of Aquino administration… making their own rules without respect to the provisions of our constitution including the recent judgment of Serenio on Poe ‘s case

    2. everything is under the bridge now…. isa lang po akong by-stander o tambay sa kanto… pero ang alam ko, sa isang demokrasya, it is the majority’s decision that prevails… dapat marunong mag-accept ang minority; otherwise, bakit pa tayo mag demokrasya, e di communism nalang – nang pwedeng masunod ang minority… at dun sa statement na hindi marunong “makisayaw” si corona sa pulitiko kaya sya hinatulan ng guilty, hindi ko po tanggap un…. i believe he “danced” with GMA for a long time…time….

      1. It was a political backfire because he awarded the Hacienda Luisita to the farmers. Remember Kris Aquino saying, “Inagaw nila lahat sa amin.” Aquino administration wanted to control the judiciary and they succeeded. CJ was the last man standing against them. All senator judges who cast guilty verdict were bribed.

  2. we are all hypocrites
    we are selfish and
    we are twisted bastards.

    we who cares for no one but ourselves
    we are liars
    we are cheaters

    we are the true pinoy! and the pnoy way

  3. the media know the senators involved in illegal jueteng, protection of BoC fixers, illegal importers – especially in cagayan de oro (clue) etc, so they should do their job rather than taking hush money.
    the breadth and depth of their deceit and hypocricy could only happen in a 3rd world country

    1. Apparently, there are a lot of journalists who got paid to write against Corona. Some even met privately with some Senators to discuss the strategy.

        1. Tsk tsk. What’s with guys like you who think that the only motivation people have to do things is money. Oh yeah, I forgot. You’re Pinoy after all.

        2. Nobody has accused this dud if he’s being paid for being an idiot commenter –

          Lawyer vegetarian (read: abogado de patola)…

          Pwe!

        3. ohhh, so i get it now benign0… you and ilda were writing for the lofty ideals of ‘due process,’ ‘rule of law,’ ‘good governance’ ‘free speech’, and decency, while most anti-corona journalists are paid hacks… you want a medal for that? – i can get one from carriedo. 🙂

        4. @HaraKiri: On the contrary, the term ‘Pinoy’ refers to street people, the dysfunctional Filipino thinking. Better to be FILIPINO than Pinoy. Fact is you love to defend the Filipino dysfunctional culture. We can never move forward if we remain like that.

          On your second sentence, such hypocrisy. So will you believe on rumors from the mainstream media and take them as truth? It’s no surprise since tsismis is your favorite pastime. PUWE! 😛

        5. jcc, if you would pull your head out of Aquinos ass long enough you would understand what these folks are saying. I have read all your posts on GRP and if anyone is a paid hack it is you. I don’t have a horse in this race but you are so biased that it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. You can’t dazzle these people with brilliance so you try to baffle them with bullshit. It won’t work. They are too smart. If you are indeed a lawyer you know damn good and well in any other venue besides here that the Corona case would have been thrown out of court on the first day. BTW, my wife IS a Lawyer and you are not.

        6. Bill,

          This jcc could be a lawyer as he claimed but might be working as a legal researcher. I call him an “abogado de patola” which is the equivalent of an ambulance chaser.

          Below is an interesting exchange of pleasantries between this idiot jcc and Ilda –

          http://getrealphilippines.com/2012/05/congress-destroyed-corona-and-further-damaged-fragile-philippine-institutions/

          Ilda says:
          May 30, 2012 at 10:13 am

          A lawyer who does not want to uphold the rule of law. No wonder you were disbarred.

          jcc says:
          May 30, 2012 at 12:15 pm

          @ilda, hehehe…. ayan ka naman, opening your mouth without checking your facts… go to supreme court website, look for the roll of attorneys and you can stillsee my name there… 🙂

          (Duh!!! he could be disbarred after his name was included in the roster.)

          @JCC

          My bad. You were only suspended by no less than the Supreme Court for misconduct. No wonder you hate the members of the SC. Tsk tsk tsk.

          You should be disbarred for not upholding the rule of law.

          @ilda, et. al;

          you have not done your research far enough. i was suspended from the practice of law for one year without giving me “due process of law” which you flaunted so much about. i was in america already and the SC and the IBP made a ruling behind my back without informing me of those rulings. they come up with a ridiculous finding/recommendation that i have breached my oath of office and the vicious SC took it hook line and sinker without my contrary input. you can say i was ‘railroaded’ to the gallows. now your bleeding hearts cry for cj corona who was given the opportunity to hire topnoth lawyers to defend himself and the jurist himself appeared to explain his side twice at the ic. i was never given that opportunity.

          i filed two motions after i came much later that they had already suspended from the practice of law and the SC was too lazy even to read my two motions. i was a victim of injustice and yet you would not want me to fight for my case because i was nobody – but you were indignant because cj corona was denied of his ‘right to due process.’ oh please!

          (Reeking with hypocrisy. See, I’m not wrong in labeling this dud a certified idiot.)

      1. @benign0,

        unfortunately, you cannot read one cursor away.

        here is ilda:

        “Apparently, there are a lot of journalists who got paid to write against Corona. Some even met privately with some Senators to discuss the strategy.”

        1. With your penchant for ad hominem statements, appeal to emotion, and lack of reading comprehension, no wonder you got suspended.

          Plus, with you being butthurt because the Supreme Court had you suspended, you should change the title of your blog to “Viewpoint Biased”.

        2. JCC must be a speed reader like the 188 idiots that signed the impeachment complaint if he can’t even read the entire article in this blog.

        3. People like JCC think they are above the law. No wonder he got suspended by the Supreme Court.

        4. jcc wrote – “….while MOST anti-corona journalists are paid hacks… you want a medal for that?”

          Benigno wrote – “…Tsk tsk. Cite specific examples where I said that “ALL” anti-Corona journalists are “paid hacks”.”

          Benigno wrote – “Saying “a lot” is different from say “ALL” dude.”

          Please explain. I think it’s not my brain I am missing here.

        5. dude, i said “most” using ilda’s and not “all”… dude you were the one with comprehension problem. 🙂

        6. @ Trosp

          Just had a de javu moment with you. I was kind of thinking you would have opted not to join the fray but you did and you, unfortunately, made previous mistakes pointed out again. See,

          “All sponge gourds are vegetable but not all vegetable are sponge gourds”

          Sponge gourd is the English term for patola. I am amaze how you make efforts hyperlinking articles to support your views yet fell dismally with searching for definitions.

          Therefore, the correct ad hominem response should read like

          “Lawyer vegetarian (read: abogado de gulay)…” if that is what you meant, no matter how silly that may sound.

          or

          “Sponge Gourd Lawyer (read: abogado de patola)”

        7. @jcc ha ha! You got me there. So sue me. Hey wait.. you just might. You’re an attorney (with a small ‘a’) nga pala. 😀

          To cut a bit of slacks for you and your Yellow mob, I did take a bit of effort to step into President BS Aquino’s shoes to write what is likely to be a seminal piece this year, A proposed draft of Noynoy Aquino’s 3rd Official State of the Nation Address (SONA) to be delivered to Congress July 22, 2012. Check it out here.

          I’m sure the above is an excellent article within which you will find nothing to disagree with for a change and would be proud to share with your pals. 😉

        8. @Curious

          Thanks for the correction.

          There was a time when policemen whose idiocy are bottomless were called either pulis patola or pulis de patola.

          From now on, I’ll do away with labeling this dud as lawyer vegetarian (pertaining to patola, seems awkward to use lawyer vegetable) and will just label him abogado de patola for your consumption.

          All dogs are animals but not all animals are dogs.

          All patolas are vegetables (vegetarian- the word I used) but not all vegetables (vegetarian) are patolas.

          Get the drift?

  4. The thing I fear about this is even though it’s clear that anyone in the government supporting PNoy has broken the law more than Corona and Arroyo, it’s highly possible for them to get away with it for years to come, possibly by the time the masses realize they’ve been had all these years.

    Assuming they are even capable of realizing they’ve been had.

    1. And you know what’s even worse the King in Yellow doing those things you mentioned and yet the adoring public thinks that he is doing the right thing for the them and the nation. Scary…..

    2. PNoy doesn’t apply the law equally. His allies including the so-called KKK are immune from investigation and prosecution.

      1. That much is obvious. The question is, if the people will eventually realize what fools they were for believing in Aquino and actually want change?

        Then again, given the masses’ lack of intellect and how some people even love what Aquino’s doing, I’d sooner see the Philippines covered in snow.

    3. Not surprisingly, some of the people I know say this: “whether the senators are guilty of the same crime or not, that’s not the point. The point is Corona’s answer was such an insult to the intelligence, and such a dishonesty.” When I asked if non-declaration of assets is an impeachable offense, they couldn’t answer, but they insist that Corona just has to go.

      Until Pinoys learn to fix systems instead of blame people and scream for blood, the same pang-uuto will happen over and over.

  5. Sometimes i’d like to cower in fear, for what is happening to our country. We have been raped for so many times, we no longer know what is right or wrong.

    I blame it to our forefathers who were to busy being ignorant.

    I blame it to ourselves who refuse to accept and learn new things.

    we deserve what sh1t we have now.

    maybe we need to really fall down so we can stand up. Can we speed things up?

    1. Regular folks just believe in what the media is telling them. They are easily swayed by popular opinion because they do not have their own conviction.

        1. Better than having credentials that are bigger than one’s true abilities, right attorney (with a small “a”)?

          Kawawa ka naman.

        2. hehehe… benign0, my abilities come in approximating that the facts brought up at the IC constituted impeachable offenses and 20 senators agreed with me, while you were still harping on some transient concepts like ‘due process,’ ‘rule of law,’ ‘jurisdiction,’ ‘flawed articles of impeachment,; ‘constitutional impairment,’ judicial independence and the like.

          get real dude.. and move on.. you sound like you are all losers! 🙂

        3. It’s actually quite sad that you see 20 senators “agreeing” with you as validation for the self-described rightness of what you say. But then, hey, you come from a community of people who believe that ideas that are popular are necessarily the right ones. As “an admired Filipino economist, based in New York” once observed:

          ”What ails the country is that Philippine society is intellectually bankrupt.” Take, for instance, the national debates, she pointed out.

          “They are droll and unintelligent, focused on the trivial or the irrelevant.” When the issues are of some significance, it’s the wrong arguments that prevail, the wrong side wins. Logic and common sense take the backseat to political arguments and the views of the poorly-educated. There seems to be some bases for her disenchantment.

        4. @jcc

          You adore the members of the IC so much just because they gave you the result you wanted. Guess what? That’s exactly what they did – they gave the mob what they wanted. It’s all about pleasing the crowd and not uncovering the truth. You’re too slow to realise that.

          So Lito Lapid is now your hero, huh? Check this out: Senator Lapid’s millions subject of Ombudsman probe

          MANILA, Philippines – Senator Lito Lapid, one of the judges in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, is himself the subject of a discreet inquiry by the Office of the Ombudsman, its curiosity triggered about the lawmaker’s reportedly fabulous assets here and abroad.

          The antigraft watchdog, mandated by law to conduct investigations motu propio or even in the absence of a formal complaint, started making quiet inquiries about the senator’s own assets and liabilities shortly after his wife Marissa was caught red-handed by US authorities with some $50,000 at the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on January 15.

          Two of Lapid’s closest business associates confirmed to News5 having received calls separately in February from an Ombudsman investigator inquiring about the senator’s wealth a week after Marissa’s arrest. One said the senator cajoled him to keep silent; the other said he would talk only if he were caught in the middle.

          Marissa is out on bond, but is still in the United States, staying in a family-owned house at No. 2055 Buffalo Drive in Las Vegas. The house has been placed under lien by a US court to ensure that she would appear in court if and when indicted for dollar smuggling.

          Lapid acquired the Buffalo Drive house and another Las Vegas house in Bugler Swan Way, with a combined cost for the two assets of over $1 million; and a P25-million duplex in Baguio City the past six years. All of these are not included in the senator’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) filed in April 2011, according to his close associates.

          The duplex had an initial selling price of P40 million.

          Where’s Lito’s conscience now?

  6. This is how it goes I presume, yet I will not bow my hope down, I will not cower and hide, I will fight even if it is considered by some irrelevant and may GRP and the sensible topics posted in it slowly open the mind of the average Pinoy and become a Filipino that understood what the heck is wrong in this country. God bless.

    1. So folks, do you think other cultures/societies have better goings in them?

      here is an email i received from a friend..

      Depressed? Over five thousand years ago, Moses said to the children of Israel, “Pick up
      your shovels, mount your asses and camels, and I will lead you to the Promised Land.”

      Nearly 75 years ago, (when Welfare was introduced) Roosevelt said, “Lay down your shovels, sit on your asses, and light up a Camel, this is the Promised Land.”

      Today, the Government has stolen your shovel, taxed your asses, raised the price of Camels and mortgaged the Promised Land!

      Now, in Canada, they can only retire at 67, not 65. The government officials get the big bucks in their pocket and can retire at 55 with full pension while the tax payers, us, slave for pennies, and they’re even getting rid of them, go figure.

      I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, the wars, lost jobs, savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc …. I called a Suicide Hot line.

      I had to press 3 for English.

      I was connected to a call center in Pakistan. I told them I was suicidal.

      They got excited and asked if I could drive a truck…….

      Folks, we’re screwed…..

      1. Lol! My heart would bleed for Canadians if it weren’t for the rather lame way you generalise about how supposedly wretched their existence is on the basis of the sob story about some loser who was driven to call the Suicide Hot Line. Then again you are an attorney (with a small “a”). So I can’t really expect you to see the error in inferring your melodramatic conclusion about a country of 34 million on the basis of a survey consisting of only one sample. Keep on trying though. There is also a mathematical principle that states that given an infinite amount of time, it is an absolute certainty that a chimp banging randomly on a typewriter will produce Shakespeare’s complete works at some point. 😀

        1. yes, benign0, sometimes i see it in you — must have sored your fingers already banging your keyboard. 🙂 — but i see that shakespearean sparks in your write-ups. 🙂

        2. Nah. The fact that you claim to see “shakespearean sparks” in my “write ups” simply further highlights your consistent inability to separate true insight from the drivel you seem to consistently latch on to. Tough luck “attorney”. 😀

        3. nah benign0 – all you have to do is read your articles and that of ilda. if you think you have not produced a lot of hot air it could be that you imbide it already as fresh air. tough culture..

      2. @JCC

        It’s so lame to insinuate that Filipinos are better off than those who live in Canada. Gees!

        Of course everyone’s got problems. Canadians have first world problems while Filipinos have third world problems. 🙂

        1. @ilda,

          if you want an untramelled debate why not allow all my posts to see through… vindictiveness is you who want only to allow comments you think have weaknesses in them which you can successfuly disarm by your unerring logic and ambiguation of the law on “due process,” “rule of law” and correct interpretation of statues and the constitution. 🙂

        2. You can work out which ones of your comments I send to the Spam folder, attorney (with a small “a”), and which ones I allow to remain here. That much I will have to trust your judgment on (an acti which goes against my better judgment). So just deal with it. If you don’t want Akismet (our spam filter) to start taking an automatic liking to you, I suggest you use what little capacity your “legal” mind (with a small “l”) allows you to apply and recognise the pattern with which I gleefully delete your comments. It’s really all up to you.

        3. @jcc

          if you want an untramelled debate why not allow all my posts to see through

          Now that is the height of stupidity. You are very thick in demanding that comments containing unfounded allegations against writers, which includes character assassinations be posted in our own blogsite.

          Stop playing the victim card, manong. You’re the one violating the commenting guideline, not me. Stick to the issues and your comments won’t go to the spam folder. Ganun lang ka simple. Mahirap ba intindihin?

      3. Now this dud is here again lecturing us on something that he is supposed to be the only one who is privy with it.

        Jeez, luckily, he didn’t use some of his newly discovered word (such as his “disconjunctive” TM) to impress us ordinary folks.

        Ang kapal talaga!

  7. “It’s not like Corona was found guilty of plunder like former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, the father of Senator Jinggoy.”

    “Senator Enrile was also a suspected co-conspirator…”

    “His act was said to have been used by…”

    I don’t think its too fair for people’s characters to be judged by suspicions of criminality and the mistakes or actions of their relatives, exactly what kind of happened to former Chief Justice Corona (US properties of his daughters, “suspicions of ill-gotten wealth” in article 2).

    Also, to be fair, it should also be noted that not only the judges who voted for conviction have conflicts of interest. Your article makes it seem like only the ones who were allied with P-Noy were the ones with vested interests. Bongbong Marcos has a pending (I’m not sure of the status) case in the SC, Enrile was once the client of defense lawyer Justice Cuevas, and the admitted accounts of lobbying made by the INC, and Lakas, in favor of an acquittal. Not to mention Miriam’s inappropriate behavior towards the prosecution.

    Judges are ideally supposed to have probity, independence, integrity and competence. Merriam-webster says probity is “adherence to the highest principles and ideals”. I don’t think repeatedly berating, belittling and cursing in the middle of the trial make a good judge. She, along with Joker Arroyo, have also been accused of acting as defense-judges.

    1. @Benjamin

      I don’t think its too fair for people’s characters to be judged by suspicions of criminality and the mistakes or actions of their relatives, exactly what kind of happened to former Chief Justice Corona (US properties of his daughters, “suspicions of ill-gotten wealth” in article 2).

      First of all, the crimes I cited in the article were either proven in court or in the case of Enrile, was something he reported to have admitted himself. You can’t compare it to what some people like Raissa Robles did to Corona and his family during the trial. Corona’s detractors were already vilifying him and his family even when there was no proof that he owned properties in the US. Besides, I was being generous when I used the word “suspected” in relation to Enrile’s involvement in the fraudulent election in 1986. A Wikipedia entry was more blatant:

      “At the same time, Enrile revealed details of the public deception he had perpetuated while serving in the Marcos government. This included being aware of fraudulent voting in the 1986 presidential election and faking an assassination attempt on his own life in 1972, which helped provide Marcos with the justification for declaring martial law.

      In citing Erap’s conviction for plunder, the article merely established the fact that Jinggoy is very close to someone who was proven to be guilty of something worse than the perceived error in Corona’s SALN. It should have given Jinggoy some perspective in deciding Corona’s verdict. What Corona did is nothing compared to what his father did.

      Bongbong Marcos has a pending (I’m not sure of the status) case in the SC

      And yet Bong Bong still decided to acquit. I don’t even know what pending case you are referring to. Please be specific. I don’t think he has anything to gain in acquitting Corona in the first place. So therefore, your reasoning doesn’t make any sense.

      Enrile was once the client of defense lawyer Justice Cuevas

      That statement fails the “So what?” test.

      the admitted accounts of lobbying made by the INC, and Lakas, in favor of an acquittal.

      That also fails the “So What?” test. Besides, it was also reported that PNoy met with the leaders of INC a few weeks before the end of the trial to gain their support.

      Not to mention Miriam’s inappropriate behavior towards the prosecution.

      What was so inappropriate about telling the prosecution what they needed to know? I can’t blame her for losing her cool because they acted like they didn’t know the law. The prosecution acted like a bunch of spoiled brats and cry-babies the whole time.

      She, along with Joker Arroyo, have also been accused of acting as defense-judges.

      You must have been watching a different trial because I hardly saw Arroyo come to the aid of the defense team. And like I pointed out, Miriam had to admonish the prosecution more often because they were the ones who kept violating the rules of the court not the defense.

  8. @ Ilda

    “Furthermore, the brunt of the blame for the fiasco should be on the Senator Judges, most especially the presiding officer of the court for tolerating these violations. On that note, the impeachment court should have been/be charged for grave abuse of power.”

    I suggest you review your several previous articles and your corresponding posts and probably make an article on the conflicting views you have immortalized.

    1. @Whatnonsense

      Uy! I didn’t know you were an avid reader of my articles. Thanks! 😉

      I suggest you go ahead and write it yourself once you find the “conflicting” views.

      Cheers!

      1. That’s the problem with these commenters. They know something that is irregular and yet they can’t cite it!

        They want it to be dramatic!

        I remember one commenter here who was insisting “it’s all over in the youtube”!

        Jeez…

  9. You pro Coronas cant move on. The impeachment trial
    is a political process using
    quasi-judicial methods. The goal of the trial was to uncover the truth about
    Corona’s fitness as chief justice, and the trial is successful in doing that.

    1. Oh no maggot. YOU and your precious president can’t move on because you numbnuts are still resorting to blame games and hate speeches to your enemies only to make yourself feel better. Do me a favor ignoramus. Go make your own planet if you want an enemy-free environment.

      Oh and fact kris aquino: I’m always sticking my duterte finger on your billboard ads every time I see them.

    2. @Retard FishCRAP

      Tsk,tsk,tsk is that all you can say you maggot?

      From the start of the trial, all it ever accomplished was proving that this government is very very vindictive not to mention very HYPOCRITICAL.

      You really should stop snorting cocaine, it’s really not good for your pathetically pitiful brain.

    3. What makes you think we are pro-Corona?

      In what way was the trial successful in uncovering the truth about Corona’s fitness as a Chief Justice? His SALN has nothing to do with his role in the judiciary.

      1. Ilda, I think this “Fishball” is just trying to mess with this site by repeatedly trolling. It is best to just DELETE his comments since they mean diddly squat.

      2. He did not declared his dollar accounts in his SALN as required to public official in the SALN law. The public has doubts that this wealth is ill gotten. And instead of the prosecution, the defense blew up the case maybe because he did not pay them properly.

        1. Unable to declare his dollar accounts in his SALN is a non-impeachable offense.

          It seems that the defense is smart because this is all politics if you ask me. 😛

      3. @ILDA,

        The IC already considered him unfit to be CJ, because he did not report his assets in the SALN as provided for by the constitution and RA 6713. According to the IC, such is an ‘impeachable offense’ but you and others consider it not.

        unfortunately ilda, the IC has the final say, not you and your symphatizers.

        it is like when you say that the SC is the interpreter of the law, the IC in this case, is the interpreter of what constitutes impeachable offense, and that is in the constitution. if you read the constitutional commission report that says ‘betrayal of public trust’ is a ‘catchall’ provision that covers any malfeasance, high or low. 🙂

        1. @ilda,

          domingo arong and martinez are not the interpreters of the constitution and the law. The IC had already interpreted it to mean that dollars should be declared too as assets and non-declaration (dollar and peso) are impeachable offenses.

          arong and martinez interpreted the law but their interpretation has no legal bearing. it is only the ic that can interpret the law on impeachment…

        2. What makes you think anyone for that matter is presuming to possess authority that trumps the impeachment court? Trouble with you attorney (with a small “a”) is that you consistently fail on so many fundamental premises — one of which is knowing the difference between idiots who consider themselves above institutional governance and smart people like us who comment on and provide cutting-edge insight (like no other blog can!) on the nature of how said institutional governance is applied and delivered.

          Too complicated for you? Sue your law school so you can get your money back. 😀

        3. @jcc

          So obviously there is a double standard. Corona was not even given a chance to correct his SALN as provided by the law and keep his post while the Ambassador to Syria could do both. What a shameful Aquino government we have here. Tsk tsk.

    4. Yeah right, and it was successful because the 20 senators voted for favor and that’s it. And what truth? Truth based on feelings? That truth is nothing but based on hearsays and conspiracy theories and it should never be counted as such.

      Honestly, you can’t even answer the author’s questions. You just get it by the biased media, shizznit.

        1. So are you telling me that we should accept questionable sources and hearsays as truth. I believe more in an absolute truth but the truth that you knew is based on what you feel.

          So what truth are you talking about? Deleting your comments is the best since you’re here just to TROLL and nothing. Deal with it.:)

        2. What truth?
          The truth that the 20 senators sold their souls to the yellow devil?
          The truth that your pitiful pathetic pea brained president has done NOTHING in his years as a senator?
          Or the truth that you just don’t have any day job so you just stay at home trolling like a bum.

        3. @fishball: how can somebody clean someone else’ backyard if they can’t clean theirs?? if the senate and the “people” are advocates of truth.. why is it that the controversy surrounding Lito Lapid was left to thin air?? it is so funny that JPE said that among the senators it was Lito who was his favorite because be spoke using his “heart”… with these issues facing the now praised high school graduate senator, do still believe that those sitting in the impeachment court are vanguards of truth?

    5. Hindi naman napatunayan na nag nakaw si Corona. Eh yun lang dollar account na ipinagkatiwala sa kanya ng mag-anak nya ang pinag-initan lang nila. Wala naman syang magagawa dun. Di nya pwedeng sabihin kanya yun kung ipinagkatiwala lang sa kanya—idadahilan lang ng mga anti-Corona na ninakaw o inaako lang niya pag sinabi niyang kanya, dahil mixed account yun na di pa lang napag-paparte-parte.

      Corona’s success in arriving at a truly just decision in favor of the trodden farmers in the long unsettled HL case, during his watch as CJ has already proven him to be better than most of his predecessors and perhaps successors.

      Wanting either de Lima or that ugly BIR woman Henares to succeed Corona only proves how ruthless loyalty to the yellow party is the criteria this admin is guided by.

      1. Corona is being investigated by BIR for tax evasion and the Ombudsman for ill gotten wealth so theres still hope to catch his crimes

        1. And then suddenly, the BIR and the Ombudsman will do the same thing as the prosecution did: fishing for evidences even if it means on breaking the rules.

          Oh yeah, the current Ombudsman is PNoy’s lackey so maybe they will be cited for contempt.

        2. Sorry Pitiful Worm, TROLL HARDER

          It was never proven in the impeachment court that corona has ill gotten wealth.

          Enrile himself said it.
          Maybe you didn’t hear it or your ears are just full of yellow crap.

        3. @Fishball

          Pinagiinitan lang si Corona dahil dun sa desisyon sa HL.

          Si Tupas meron itinatago. Yan ang dapat imbestigahan. Ayaw mag sign ng waiver, pati na rin yan si Drilon.

          Yang si Lapid, nabisto pa ata sa customs kalokohan ng mga iyan.

          Nakikinabang ka lang sa mga kalokohan ng administrasyon. Ayaw mo pang aminin.

  10. Ilda,

    Aside from luto, don’t we also use another word in Filipino to describe a fixed outcome? – benta. And that’s just it; how many of those who voted to convict Corona sold their verdicts for either money, or votes, or a favor?

    I am sick and tired of people who think that the impeachment trial uniqueness is an excuse for violation of constitutional rights and unscrupulous practice to be rampant. I can’t even understand some people I know in the legal community who were convinced that Corona just had to go.

    Never mind that there was no conclusive evidence of ill-gotten wealth nor that the case was poorly crafted; never mind that the Judicial Bar Council ruled his appointment constitutional. While we do not leave out the possibility that the JBC is tainted, I can’t ever appreciate that even if there are Filipinos are lawyers, in the end they can’t get rid of their pagka-Pinoy, and prejudge people as guilty of something.

    As for the politicians that keep sitting down, the Pinoys sow what they reap. As long as they continue to be fooled by the glare, they will keep falling into the same pit over and over again.

    1. @FallenAngel

      Benta is also an appropriate term for the padrino system. Politicians exchange favours all the time. It’s obvious some of the elder senators are securing their son’s future in politics.

      The anti-Corona mob keep crying about Corona’s supposed violation of the Constitution when in fact, his accusers committed worse violations.

      I can’t ever appreciate that even if there are Filipinos are lawyers, in the end they can’t get rid of their pagka-Pinoy, and prejudge people as guilty of something.

      There are lawyers like JCC who hate the members of the Supreme Court just because they lost a case or was suspended/disbarred for misconduct or cited for contempt in the past.

  11. But what “crime” did Corona commit? And even if it was deemed a “crime,” was it an “impeachable offense”?

    A similar “crime” of “non-declaration” in his SALNs for several years now was admitted by Syrian Ambassador-designate Nestor Padalhin; for, like Corona, the Ambassador had similarly failed to include information concerning real property he owns in Seattle, Washington.

    Today’s news reports (May 6th), however, indicate that the Commission on Appointments has confirmed Padalhin’s appointment–the failure to disclose notwithstanding.

    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/06/06/12/ph-envoy-corrects-saln-gets-confirmed
    http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/260818/news/nation/ca-oks-appointment-of-phl-envoy-to-syria-2-others

    In this light, can the “crime” of SALN “non-declaration” be rightly regarded as an impeachable offense?

    The Impeachment Court, of course, has already decided that, indeed, such is to be regarded as an “impeachable offense”; but the Committee on Appointments (of the same Senate that convened as the Court) during its session yesterday evidently decided otherwise, contradicting the Court opinion by decreeing that such “non-declaration” is not to be considered even as a “crime” at all.

    Surprising, the Committee on Appointment’s view is altogether consistent with what the Civil Service Commission (CSC) “Rules Implementing the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees” under R.A. 6713 similarly declare in Section 1, Rule VIII (Review and Compliance Procedure) as regards SALN filing: http://www.doj.gov.ph/files/rulesra6713.pdf

    “In the event said authorities determine that a statement is not properly filed, they shall inform the reporting individual and direct him to take the necessary corrective action.”

    “The individual to whom an opinion is rendered, and any other individual involved in a similar factual situation, and who, after issuance of the opinion acts in good faith in accordance with it shall not be subject to any sanction provided in the Code.”

    What all these mean, of course, is that, if Corona’s failure to disclose is still subject, after all, to “the necessary corrective action” and if Corona “acts in good faith” to undertake such “corrective action”; then, the pertinent CSC Implementing Rule regarding the matter emphatically declares that Corona “shall not be subject to any sanction provided in the Code.”

    If so, why was Corona’s failure to properly accomplish his SALNs–which “shall not be subject to any sanction provided in the Code” if “the necessary corrective action” is undertaken—deemed a “crime” and an “impeachable offense” at that?

    But why, on the other hand, was Ambassador Padalhin’s similar failure to disclose allowed to pass through virtually unchallenged–just a week after Corona was convicted and removed for the same “offense”?

    Is this not a classic example of a selective enforcement of the law by the same set of enforcers?

    1. The verdict for Corona needs to be overturned. It is only right, according to the TRUE doctrine of “Daang Matuwid”. I am not referring to the perverted version of BS Aquino.

    2. @Domingo

      Indeed, it is such a shame that a day after Corona’s guilty verdict, the news about that Ambassador to Syria’s erroneous SALN surfaced. Worse, he was given a chance to correct it. The Senators committed grave abuse of power for ignoring that.

      They also made it look like Corona was the one in charge when that court clerk from Davao was dismissed due to her SALN. Besides, it wasn’t even the error in her SALN that got her sacked. It was from receiving double compensation.

      I think members of the SC should look into this.

    3. As an addition –

      “TEDITORIAL

      THE WORLD TONIGHT

      By Teddy Locsin Jr.

      29 May 2012

      The Answer Is No

      …Today was not the day of decision. But the day the decision would be announced.

      LIKE IN A BICAMERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, FOR ALL THE HASTE OF THIS IMPEACHMENT, IT MUST HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE IT WAS FILED.

      The decision of the Senate Impeachment Court, making up a law as the trial went along, and then convicting for it, is the bill of attainder of which Enrile warned.

      THIS WAS NOT IMPEACHMENT AS A POLITICAL PROCESS BUT A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION, MASQUERADING AS A JUDICIAL PROCEDURE.

      An impeachment aspires to judicial procedure, ever mindful of judicial rules, above all respectful of due process that no citizen can be denied however high or low.

      That is why the senators wear the costumes of judges. To look like judges.

      But this was not a trial but a long execution carried out by the Legislature at Executive behest.

      THE GROUNDS FOR THE CHIEF JUSTICE’S IMPEACHMENT WERE CULPABLE VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND BETRAYAL OF THE PUBLIC TRUST.

      CULPABLE MEANS BLAMEWORTHY. THAT EXCLUDES UNINTENTIONAL WRONG. (I was very good at Latin).

      In this case, the act was not even wrong. The BIR says no taxpayer ever declared dollar deposits.

      Other grounds (of impeachment): treason, bribery, graft and corruption.

      The grounds differ. But all share a necessary quality. A, in must be of equal gravity. And B, so obviously wrong, note, so obviously wrong as to threaten the order of political society, making it pestilent and perilous for the perpetrator to stay in power.

      Now, of what was the Chief Justice accused that made him pestilent and his tenure perilous? It is the Chief Justice’s accusers in the House, in the Palace, in the Senate and in the media who threaten democracy and the rule of law and the order of political society.

      The very allegations of culpable violation and betrayal of the public trust must already show what they did not in this case: a clear threat to the social order equal to treason. Enrile made it clear: the Chief Justice was not charged with ill-gotten wealth, only of failing to declare all of his presumably honestly-earned money.

      BETRAYAL OF THE PUBLIC TRUST DOES NOT MEAN “I DON’T TRUST YOU, HONEY,” LIKE A POLITICIAN’S WIFE SAYS WHEN SHE CATCHES HIM IN BED WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

      THE CONSTITUTION HAS A SPECIAL DEFINITION. BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC TRUST IS SUCH GROSS IRRESPONSIBILITY, SUCH BRAZEN LACK OF INTEGRITY, SUCH REPEATED DISLOYALTY TO DUTY, SUCH HEEDLESS INEFFICIENCY, AND LAZINESS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, SUCH GLARING INJUSTICE AND EXTRAVAGANT LIVING AS TO POSE A THREAT TO THE GOOD ORDER OF SOCIETY.

      No real, let alone legal proof showed any of that. Such proof, as the prosecution attempted, did not approach the standard of clear and convincing evidence for conviction. The Chief Justice was accused of Culpable Violation of the Constitution. But in what regard? How culpable? What was the act or omission and how was it wrong? Can that be wrong which everyone does under a law, and only one is accused of it?

      Signing the waiver acquitted the Chief Justice. And put all his accusers on trial.

      The Chief Justice did not conceal his money. It is not concealment when the law itself shields the money.

      The Senators lambasted him for that. But went along with the TRO. Their secrets had to be shielded. But his could not be.

      They could convict him for hiding what they can keep hiding after all.

      THEN THE CHIEF JUSTICE DID THE UNFORGIVABLE. HE WAIVED THE SECRECY OF HIS DOLLAR DEPOSITS. NOW, THE SENATORS ARE EXPECTED TO DECLARE THEIR DEPOSITS ALSO.

      Corona was dead. He was expected to lie down and die alone, not take the Senators with him.

      In the end, did the Chief Justice mis-declare all that he owned as public officers are required to report?

      But the remedy for mis-declaration is self-correction, not impeachment as we shall see when a friend of the president is finally caught.

      Indeed, impeachment is too grave a remedy. A reckless impeachment undermines the independence of the judiciary, as it can weaken the energy of the presidency.

      What the Senate did today will decide whether ours shall henceforth be a government of laws and of separated powers or a government of whimsy or one-gang rule. Whether ours shall be a government of limited powers or of powers as far as a president’s ambition will go.

      Now, judicial decisions will change with time. Political actions will harden with expedient repetition. And this is a government of expediency galore.

      IT ALL CAME DOWN TO THE QUESTION: CAN THE CHIEF JUSTICE BE IMPEACHED FOR HIS INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW THAT HIS ACCUSERS COMPLETELY AGREE WITH BY NOT SIGNING THEIR WAIVERS. NOW, THAT IS HYPOCRISY AND A VIOLATION OF THE EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW.

      I therefore submit:

      The answer is No.

      Yet the Senate said Yes.

      But I Told You So.”

  12. We will always have this kind of Justice, if our Judiciary is controlled by Politicians. And is not independent. Judges and Justices owes their positions and loyalties to Politicians, who appoint them. These Politicians who will be in power. Will use these Judges and Justices, as a Controlling Tool, to get even, with their political enemies. Only an independent Judiciary can remove this problem…It is like the Civil Rights issues in American South, and in South Africa. We shall overcome…

  13. To be fair, although the reasons for the Corona conviction were dubious and flawed, one positive thing to look at is that perhaps the Philippines has taken a little step to maturity. What I mean with this is that instead of doing another EDSA, the Filipino people rather waited for the completion of the impeachment trial. The next step the Filipino people need to take is to learn critical analysis and to learn the rules (of court/evidence/procedure) instead of acting merely as sheep following everything that the jaundiced media tells them. Bill Clinton used his power and position to take advantage of a White House intern and he even disrespected the Office of the Presidency by committing his “sin” in the Oval Office. He admitted to this and it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that he did it. But critical analysis of the case asked whether his act was an impeachable offense or not. I think this is something that the general Filipino sheep mindset has to comprehend. Why on Earth would Corona’s case be “culpable violation of the Constitution” when the law provides a means to correct inaccuracies in SALNs? Why on Earth would Corona have “betrayed public trust” when his case was not about using his position or public office for his personal gain? In my view… there is still a long way to go before the general Filipino mindset goes from being merely sheep to maturity.

    1. @Hector

      You’ve got a point. But I have to say that Corona’s impeachment trial would not have happened in the first place had it not been for PNoy’s insistence that Corona had to go. Unfortunately, the tactic of using evidence in an “envelop” from an “anonymous” source used during Erap’s impeachment a decade ago was also used during Corona’s impeachment. Obviously the congressmen did not “mature”. I doubt if this tactic will be not be used in the next one.

      Our society’s maturity will depend on whether the people who support PNoy now will eventually accept that they were wrong in turning a blind eye to his indiscretions. Maturity can only happen when one admits his/her mistake.

      The voters themselves are the ones who promote impunity when they keep voting the same politicians over and over.

  14. This is life in the Philippines,…We have to accept that those in power always rule our country though it hurts us….Long live the Trapos…we should learn from the impeachment of CJ not to vote for political clans, actresses/actors, fake heroes like Honasan and Trillanes and etc….Please let us help our country move on

    1. BS Aquino though not an actor was endorsed by many in the show biz community. He had no substance whatsoever yet inspired a fanatical following. I really believe that since everything came so easy for him , he felt even more entitled to do what he wants. He ignores the protocol of the system because as far as he is concerned he is the system. Voting this imbecile who took advantage of sympathy directed toward his dead mother is beyond my comprehension. Not sure why that inspires people. But that is the culture we are in so we deserve that doofus if all it takes is a corpse to influence the election. I may be blunt but I speak the truth.

      1. I think he has an actor in him too. He’s trying to act smart whenever he opens his mouth to say something. He’s good at acting like a spoiled brat whenever things don’t go his way.

        1. Point taken. He high jacked the artista culture which is critical in this electorate. Thanks to that bastion of patriotism the Lopez family.

  15. As always great article Ilda telling it how it is. It was noticeable that especially in the early days that the prosecution was constantly feeding the media with information and discussing it in a manner that is not permitted. The President himself was going against the rules almost daily at one point. Yet not once was it remarked upon by the Judges apart from Miriam of course. There was an scary silence and it was deliberately overlooked. Looking back i guess it was a sign of what was to come.

    1. Thanks, James!

      Unfortunately, it seems like we have been had by the members of impeachment court. I applaud the three senators for standing up to what is right.

  16. Corona was convicted of a crime against the Filipino people. He and his family should rot in jail for that. That is justice. Whatever alleged crimes senator-judges are accused of, before or even at present, doesn’t in anyway excuse this evil thing called a Corona of the crime committed. No, ifs and buts!

    1. You are entitled to your views of course. You are also entitled to use multiple id s that don’t come close to portraying your character.

      1. Lemme see. Christian Values also goes by the names:

        straight path
        right way
        Truth Seeker
        PowerBoy
        rule_of_law

        It seems Malacanang communication team doesn’t have enough staff to man GRP. 😉

        1. Poor sod. He got assigned to “hostile” GRP while his colleagues are enjoying the circle jerk that can be found on Rappler and Raissa’s blog.

        2. Notice how he just says the same thing over and over? He doesn’t even bother to respond to the points raised by others. It’s typical Vincenzo tactic.

        3. Yep, parang sirang plaka talaga itong TROLL na ito. Palaging paulit ulit na walang katuturan.

        4. @Ilda

          Instead of fabricating lies about innocent commenters like me, why don’t you just stick to the issues? That is what a legitimate journalist would do.

        5. @Hypocritical Vaules:

          “Dumb people talk about PEOPLE. Average people talk about EVENTS. Intelligent people talk about IDEAS.” -Eleanor Roosvelt

          If you’re an innocent commenter, then why there is vindictiveness in your first comment? Sorry, but God is totally disappointed because of your stupidity. Just accept the fact that your innocent mind was corrupted by the media. Deal with it.

        6. @Satanic Values:

          And speaking of the ‘fabricated lies’ schtick, tell that to ABS-CBN, Inquirer, and Raissa Robles. They’re very good at doing that. 😛

    2. Maybe your username should be ‘Hypocritical Values’ because you are clearly missing the point after all. You are totally blinded of what the media tells you. Heck, even God is disappointed on what you’re doing.

    3. @ Christian Value

      It should be moral clarity and not moral superiority.

      Baka mamya, isa ka lang na nagmamalinis…

      BTW, impeachment is a political exercise if you’re not stupid enough to know it.

      It’s a number game.

    4. With that name and dumb post of yours, you are now proving yourself from what Miriam Defensor Santiago said on her acquittal reason.

    5. @Nutzi Values

      You seem to have real Nazi values. Haas Corona? Your hatred for Corona and his family shows. He was convicted of a crime against the Filipino people? Please quote specifically the impeachment article that he was convicted of a crime against the Filipino people.

  17. Ilda says: “Filipinos won’t be able to move on from the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona for a while.”….
    har..har..har… KAYO LANG ANG HINDI MAKA MOVE ON… mapait talaga ang Ampalaya.. YOU DEFENDERS OF CORRUPTS!
    Susunod na yung patronesa nyo “Sh%t I am next..!” LOLs

    1. It seems that the likes of you never get it: only idiots will say corruption is the root cause of the problem yet it’s not. How can we move on if these kind of blunders will still continue.

      Only vindictive and malicious trolls will never move on because you’re crying for more BLOOD, just like an angry mob. No wonder why we are Asia’s basketcase because most of Filipinos are intellectually bankrupt, like yourself. 🙂 ‘Defenders of corrupts’ my a$$. Yet the likes of you are DEFENDERS OF DYSFUNCTIONAL CULTURE!

      Kahit makulong si GMA, lubog pa rin ang Pilipinas dahil sa mga tulad nyo LOLs

      *incoming ad hominem attacks in 3…2…1…*

    2. @Harakiri

      Basahin mo kasi yung article bago humirit. The reason why there is no closure yet is because of the following as pointed out in the article:

      First, some are still on high alert keeping tabs on the petitioning of President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III along with the rest of the public servants who haven’t done so to finally sign a waiver to open all their savings accounts to public scrutiny. It’s only fair, since they convicted Corona on that basis. Second, there are reports indicating that a five-page petition was filed before the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the whole impeachment process particularly the guilty verdict that was handed out by the impeachment court.

      It’s funny how some members of the House of Representatives and the Senate has lulled you into thinking that the “corrupt” people are gone. Hahaha!

      As for GMA, from now on you can stop saying that she cheated in the 2004 election because the ombudsman herself cleared her of any wrong-doing. Please read and weep:

      GMA, Garci cleared in 2004 poll bribery

      1. Looks like you did it Ilda, I think this “Harakiri” guy is sobbing already at the fact that GMA will never be convicted of anything now

        1. They can’t use the line “GMA cheated in 2004 elections” or “Hello Garci tape” anymore.

          And they can’t even say that GMA got off the hook because of her allies. GMA was cleared by Ombudsman Morales for insufficient evidence.

        2. @HaraKiri: Still on your vindictiveness, huh? No wonder why this country is a basketcase. So because you’re losing arguments, you’re now resorting to personal attacks, which is sad.

          Yan ang mga utak-squatter, ladies and gentlemen. Mahilig magbintang and they resort to feelings instead of logic.

        3. Let’s start from the current:

          If Ombudsman Morales say Corona is a certified liar, the former should not be believed.

          If Ombudsman Morales “clears” GMA of cheating in 2004 elections or the Hello Garci Tape (like it did not exist, hehehe), the former should be believed.

          More coming up 🙂

      2. don’t you know that the SC had cleared Ver, Custodio and the 21 enlisted AFP personnel for the 1983 murder of Ninoy Aquino? Only to process them again after Mr. Marcos fled the country?

        Weder Weder lang iyan ika nga ni ERAP!

        1. @JCC

          That fails the “So what?” test. As if Corona was already part of the Supreme Court back in the 80s. Duh!

          BTW, you started with your ad hominem again. I thought you already apologised for doing that in the past. I hope it’s not a sign of desperation. Please note that comments with excessive ad hominem or name-calling directed towards the writers will be moved to the spam folder.

        2. @ilda,

          youd did not understand my comment about Custodio et. al. case.

          you were pointing out that GMA was already cleared by the Ombudsman earlier on her alleged election snatching.

          giving us the impression that she could no longer be processed for the same offense. i cited the case of custodio et. al., who were cleared by the court only to be processed again.

          anyway, the gma earlier case was not dismissed by the prior ombudsman, therefore it can be refiled. even if it was, the court can always skirt it around. see the case of custdio et. al, re the murder of ninoy?

        3. @JCC

          Well, good luck with that. What makes you think there will be enough evidence the next time around? Diosko day! You’re the one sounding like a sore loser here. Here’s the part that you probably missed from the report: GMA, Garci cleared in 2004 poll bribery

          Ombudsman said the evidence against the seven was insufficient since “the complaint contains bare allegations and pieces of evidence that are unsubscribed, unauthenticated and recanted affidavits or statements.”

          The Ombudsman said the allegations “could not create a well-founded belief that the crimes have been committed and that the accused were probably guilty thereof and should stand trial” under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

          Now unless you know of any other credible witnesses out there, I don’t think you’re going to have any luck prosecuting GMA again over that case. Just forget about it.

      1. Endurance on criticism? Maybe endurance on TROLLING.

        Fact is what you did is not criticism but the other way around. Only uncivilized human beings are capable of doing that. 😛 No wonder why we are a basketcase.

  18. Those who accused us of ‘not moving on’ or being ‘defenders of corrupts’, I wanna ask: do you think those who are currently in the government are honest and not corrupt? If you trolls are defending the lame excuses of PNoy and his minions on not signing their waivers can be also considered as ‘defenders of corrupts’ because they’re supporting their hypocrisy.

    Fact is the DYSFUNCTIONAL CULTURE is the problem, not corruption.

  19. Get real. Fact remains that if someone can’t explain where he got all his money it becomes obvious that there is something not right. You can make all the discussions you want but the truth is corona couldn’t explain where his money came from. So get real…

    1. @Aurelio: Read the article more. Fact is you’re truly missing the point after all.

      So get real because you’ve been brainwashed by the biased media 😛 …

    2. @Aurelio

      Fact remains that if someone can’t explain where he got all his money it becomes obvious that there is something not right.

      Just watch his testimony again on YouTube. He already explained it properly. Even the Senators and the prosecution team did not have a problem with his explanation. Otherwise, they would have cross examined him. They rested their case without questioning him about his wealth. Obviously, they were satisfied.

  20. Ilda’s Personal Mission: To delete HaraKiri’s comments to her blogs which she calls “article”…Ilda you have the nerve to call it that way but you are afraid of criticism? Ang kitid naman! No wonder, supalpal ka kay Raissa when you commented on one of her blogs regarding Corona’s midnight appointment.. wala ka sa kanya kahit sa kalingkingan ineng…. at talo lagi ang pikon… he he

    1. Nope. Ilda deleted your comments not because of criticism. That’s because you’re resorting to attack the person and not the message.

      You lose on arguments but you’re almost like Raissa: if someone disagrees, f*ck logic and just attack the person! That INTELLECTUALLY BANKRUPT. And for the record, Raissa Robles is the epitome of ‘tsismosa’ and may idiots (including YOU) believe on her ‘articles’, hiding under the ‘investigative journalist’ cover. Cecilio Arillo is a million times better if you ask me. And the very reason why you commend Robles is because she’s part of the Yellow Media.

      So sino ang pikon sa inyong dalawa? He he

    2. Actually Mr HaraKiri it was me who flagged your last comment as spam. I retained this one only because DaSuperSolder responded to it.

      That said, thy simple fact of your being beholden to the word of Raissa Robles already pretty much gives everyone a good indication of the depth of intellect you apply. Well, that and the sort of comments you post here. 😀

      Nice to see our articles remain irresistible to your pointed head.

      1. “Nice to see our articles remain irresistible to your pointed head.”-

        that’s a lesson even the bald vindictive awkward one in Malacanang can learn let alone his groupies. No one is putting a gun to any yellow zombie’s head to come here if our discourse offends them. I can say I have only been to Rappler once and that’s because they once had tornado footage. I never scanned it because what’s the point. People who earned my respect with their insight say it’s content is just affirmation for Noynoy that’s all I need to know to not go there. Life is short. Be open to all views to an extent . If something will truly offend you , don’t seek it out and instead seek out what will enrich you or entertain you. Now so called news is another story. I have to see Inquirer, ABS CBN etc despite their 1940’s Nazi Germany type spin on things.

        Kris/ Fish Ball, Christian Guy and all the yellow zombies come in to stir it up because stuff here is a threat. To look behind the curtain of the Wizard of Oz and reveal all the crap underneath. So it’s a compliment of sorts.

    3. @Harakiri

      The fact that you focus too much on the writer of the article already proves that you cannot provide a good rebuttal to the points raised.

      The character assassination directed towards myself and the other writers here is not equivalent to an objective criticism. It’s merely a ploy to distract others from the real issues.

      Raissa Robles? Show us the link where she responded to me, please. Otherwise, you are telling a lie. The one time I wrote a comment on her blog, back when I still didn’t know she was just a gossipmonger, she deleted it. I don’t even bother going there anymore because it’s useless.

    1. @Der Fuhrer

      In corollary with your link –

      Only in America –

      1) Only in America could the President talk
      about the greed of the rich at a $35,000 a plate campaign fund-raising event.

  21. Give the trolls enough rope to hang themselves and watch them swing up high. Wahl podners, the yellow pilgrims are on the run. Head them off at the pass again and again. Heeha!

  22. Some Senators who found Corona guilty committed worse crimes than what he was accused of?

    So why are the cases not being filed? Is this a sour-grape or just an imagination of a bellyacher?

    1. There is a line in Top Gun that I don’t think was my imagination. “Gentlemen you don’t make policy you are the instrument of it”.

      One of the senators and I think it was not my imagination got a lot of armed men and occupied a civilian building in the financial district. Which of course shows integrity and guts taking unarmed civilians captive. This was on CNN which I believe is not part of my imagination. This person was voted in as senator because of whatever qualities the voters projected on him. OK, your turn what did Corona do that is worse despite piss off the balding Mama’s boy?

      1. Corona was named in a case filed against him. He was eventually convicted. And here you are, still, insinuating on something that remains unnamed and unidentified? Please.

        If you really care for Corona, name names the person which you think is worse than him.

        1. The prosecution and even Noynoy and his allies. Does that make sense?

          BOBO ka lang. 😛

        2. @jonas

          Persons who are worse than Corona, I can name a lot including Penoy, Tupaz, Drilon.

          But may I ask who are those persons that you think are better than him?

          Don’t tell me it’s Ramon Magsaysay. Just name any person among those who have accused him.

          Kaliwaan lang.

        3. DaSuperSolder – In the discussion we’re having on the board (I can’t remember talking to you), I think you are already losing control of yourself. Don’t be a Miriam, please.

        4. Trosp – You are no different from Miriam. You talked of issues that are irrelevant to the case. If Penoy, Tupaz, Drilon are worse than Corona, where are the cases against them? See the point?

          I’m not going to say they are better than Corona because they were not charged (and convicted) like Corona. Why not compare Corona to Erap who underwent the same experience (impeached)? There is no comparison, in the eyes of the court, between the accuser and the accused. Remember what Miriam said about ejusdem generis?

        5. @Ungas:

          I’m not losing myself. You’re the one who is losing yourself since all of your comments are full of emotions and no logic and reason. And I caan die a happy man if you brand such people like Bobby Knight, Gordon Ramsay, and even Margaret Thatcher as ‘brenda.’ Are you ok with that?

          Trosp has a point: the people that he mentioned are worse than Corona and now you question on why there are no charges filed against them. Well, it’s simple: there are many gullible fools (maybe yourself included) believed that Noynoy and his allies are clean, particularly Noynoy since he bore the Aquino name; in addition, they got the media on their side so they manipulate the people believing that Corona and everyone they considered as an enemy being ‘corrupt’ and many people are biting it even they have insufficient evidence. For the 20 senators, they’re playing politics and they never use their knowledge.

          I just hope you’ll get this and please stop being an emo loser.

        6. @Jonas

          What cases are you talking about?

          The fact that they would not give waiver on the access to their bank accounts is more than enough to prove that they’re corrupt.

          If they are not hiding anything, then the waiver.

          Kailangan bang Tagalugin ko pa.

          They’re hiding something that’s why they can’t issue a waiver!

          They’re corrupt!

          The same way they’ve accused Corona.

    2. @jonas

      I strongly recommend you read beyond the title of the article. The names and the crimes they committed were mentioned. Most were actually convicted of the crimes or have admitted to doing it. I also suggest you read other publications other than the Inquirer.

      1. Well, I’m sorry if I overlooked what you meant in your story but I still stand by my opinion that your piece sounds sour-graping to me. And I said that because it’s very obvious that you focused on the trivial and not really on the essence of the case.

        1. we must move on. the people are happy with the senator judges’ decision. according to survey, 80 percent are satisfied with the guilty verdict. they just did their jobs, to convict a cj whose unfit and a lapdog of gloria. if you do not want the decision, you are not for democracy in which its always the majority that wins.

        2. @Fishball: To be honest, saying that ‘we should move on’ means to continue on the status quo, continue making mistakes, to continue to live in mediocrity and to be immature (like your pathetic ‘Blame Gloria’ blame games) and don’t trust on surveys because they can be biased.

          On democracy, I’m not in favor of democracy by idiots like yourself. Fact is that democracy waas treated as a spectator sport thanks to Cory and her allies. Democracy my a$$. 😛

        3. Ilda – You’re not going to see specifics because you refused to look at it. You raised a questionable issue, you support it against opposite observation. Meaning, specifics should originate from you to make your point stand up.

        4. @Jonas

          If you can’t be specific about which part of the article is “questionable” to you, then you have nothing constructive to add to the discussion.

  23. Kris/ Fishball I really wonder about the majority winning when your kuya pole vaulted into Malacanang over your mother’s corpse? Majority winning also brought us Erap. I don’t know if even Charlie Sheen would call that winning. Go troll for another married man Kris.

  24. Daido Katsumi – Hypertension kills. Just ask Miriam. Lol!

    Joking aside, man, you’re losing it. Chill. You tend to make chopsuey of the issue. Look, I cannot understand why Noynoy, Bobby Knight, Gordon Ramsay, and even Margaret Thatcher got into the picture. I can feel the pain in you. It must have been from way back and you are now trying to connect it with the Corona case.

    Noticeably missing though was FIDEL RAMOS’s name in the line-up. I think that’s where the hurt originated.

    Anyway, I’m into now. Miriam is a great legislator/educator, etc. But what she did during and up to the end of the impeachment trial is something not to be proud about as an accomplish professional and distinguish member of the Senate.

    So far, nobody was able to defend nor justify it. Even Miriam.

    1. I was very right after all: you actually hate critically smart people because you fear of harsh words, they will hurt your feelings even what they said is true, calling them being ‘disrespectful, abusive, and arrogant’ and not ‘Oo nga, no?’ That also happened to Richard Gordon during the 2010 elections when he criticized his fellow Filipinos for their backward thinking and attitudes yet they said ‘This guy is arrogant’ and they voted for the nutjob Noynoy instead. And the rest is history.

      Wanna know why I mention those people? Because they’re also known for their harsh words and was seen as ‘very negative, arrogant, and abusive’. But in reality, they were greatly respected in their field and they were regarded as the best, wheter you like it or not.

      Gordon Ramsay was a top chef and a restaurant entepreneur and a host for shows like “Hell’s Kitchen”, which he uses harsh words and being abusive to his contestants. Since he is an expert, of course he would be pissed if some of them are not doing their job. But he has a point: if you want to be the best, then you prove it. That is what we call motivation.

      Bobby Knight is a former college basketball coach yet he was known as one of the most controversial coaches; infamous for alleged assaults, also harsh words, and even throwing chairs during games. But he was widely respected as one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history for his coaching philosophy and his clean programs, the results are most of his players have graduated.

      Margaret Thatcher was known as ‘Iron Lady’ of Britain because of her outstanding performance as PM during the 80s with her iron will (of course, that includes her harsh words). Actually, Miriam quoted this in an interview: “Listen to what I say, not HOW I say it.” And that is a Margaret Thatcher quote.

      So my advice is: use your head. Wanna know why God put the brain on the top of your body? That is to THINK.. Unfortunately, most of Flipinos (including yourself) are anti-intellectual and use their feelings instead. And that is the sad state of our country. Fact is those who brand Miriam as ‘disrespectful, abusive, and arrogant’ are those who have brain damage since they’re intellectualy bankrupt and dwell themselves into mediocrity thanks to the stupid politicians together with the biased media..

      1. Daido Katsumi – What can I say? You’re speaking for me now. If you want to argue and debate with me, I don’t think speaking for me is the right to do.

        I’m not going to do the same to you. What I’m going to do is show you the right way to contradict, critique, argue or debate. And let me remind you also, that I’m going to do it not in Miriam’s kind of way.

        Let’s proceed. I don’t remember Richard Gordon nor Noynoy uttering the word “gago” or “kagaguhan” in speaking aloud their ideas and sharing it with the people. I also don’t remember them going hysterics and ballistic as well as moronic like what Miriam did. You are very welcome, though, to share with me any info that I missed about them.

        Gordon Ramsay? Are you serious? For one, I didn’t realized Ramsay’s kitchen is as big as the Philippine’s Senate Hall! I also didn’t know that wanting to be the best in the kitchen is the same in wanting to be the best in the August chamber of the Senate. That could be the reason why Miriam acted horrendously in the impeachment trial. Parang nagluluto lang siya.

        Bobby Knight? I have read a lot of stories about him. Great guy. But never did I recall reading something that compares him to a statesman or diplomat. You play in the basketball court but you don’t play in impeachment court. For you recognize the difference is really terrible.

        Ah, Margaret Thatcher. Yes, I agree with you about her. But compared to Miriam, they’re poles apart. Liken to salesladies, Thatcher is the one you find in the mall. In uniform, passed some qualification requirements for the job as well as interview. Miriam is the one peddling in the street corner. Just unfolded her bilao her wares comes up for sale. This with matching ‘gago’ or ‘kagaguhan’ words that fits a palengkera like her.

        Anyway, just keep it simple. Tell me, why Miriam was correct in the way she arrogantly and abusively conducted herself in the impeachment trial. Don’t tell me how intelligent or successful she is because I agree with you on that. Tell me why she is correct and perfect in what she did because that is really the main issue why we are having discussions here.

        1. Still missing the point. The very reason why I’m comparing Miriam to those people is because of their attitude on being harsh to everyone. You said that Miriam was arrogant and abusive, right? TBH, EMO people usually say that.

          Like I said, stop being so EMO and take off your ‘Pinoy’ thinking. You always said that because what Miriam said is all true. 😛

        2. You are exactly like one of the loser head chefs in Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmare. Ramsay is really telling them what is really wrong with their restaurant including their recipes and their kitchen constructively even if he talks rude but they too use their emoness to defend their restaurant’s mediocrity.
          What’s up with that emo attitude of yours? Dumadabog ka palagi sa nanay at tatay mo ano pag pinapagalitan ka nang maayos? Ano nasaktan ka sa sinabi ko emo troll? Sue me!

        3. You didn’t realize that Miriam did well in the impeachment MORE than those Senator-Judges out there. You clearly were not paying attention to the complete point of what she’s saying during the impeachment proceedings! She may have a different way of saying it, but she doesn’t become an ICC judge for nothing.
          All throughout the impeachment, she’s the only one other than Enrile who was so critical in whatever irregularities the prosecution and the defense did on the impeachment. She may not have been present all the time because of her condition, but nonetheless she gave each of them a lecture as a professor would teach his students.
          Do you miss out what “constructive criticism” means?

      2. “So my advice is: use your head. Wanna know why God put the brain on the top of your body? That is to THINK.” – Daido Katsumi

        What??? In so many words, you’re trying to say that you need God to put brain on your body just to say the word “gago”?

        My, oh my. What’s happened to the world? What happened to common sense?

        1. Completely missing the point. ‘Listen to what I say, not HOW I say it.’ Dahil lang sa pagmumura, ganyan na? It seems that you’re emotionally weak so you’re comparing her to Annabelle Rama. Ugh.

  25. “Unfortunately, most of Flipinos (including yourself) are anti-intellectual and use their feelings instead. And that is the sad state of our country. Fact is those who brand Miriam as ‘disrespectful, abusive, and arrogant’ are those who have brain damage since they’re intellectualy bankrupt and dwell themselves into mediocrity thanks to the stupid politicians together with the biased media.” – Daido Katsumi

    -Actually, what’s unfortunate is people like you assuming something that has no basis and and utter lie. And let me prove that to you.

    How can I be anti-intellectual when I admire Miriam Defensor Santiago as a lawmaker/lawyer and administrator of justice? If I’m anti-intellectual I would never vote for her in the times that she ran as a senator.

    All you do is assume and that is bad. If you want to argue decently, try to put legs on your argument.

    1. Yet you can even admit that you’re comments are full of EMOTIONS. Many Filipinos love to watch telenovelas so they were easily caught on the drama. Instead of using their brains, they use feelings instead when making decisions. And that is bad.

    2. @Jonas

      To my mind, you’re not anti intellectual. You’ve just a misplaced bias which you would rather evade confronting.

      You’re neither here nor there. Playing it safe. Parang bading – pwedeng AC/DC.

      1. @ Trosp

        You should watch your mouth (or whatever it’s called). Wag mo’ng i-equate sa kabadingan ang mga bagay na wala kang alam. Itsura mo pa lang, nakita na kita sa gay bar. Hipokritang lola!

  26. DaSuperSolder – Don’t get mad at me. I was not the one who convicted Corona. [img]http://planetsmilies.net/smoking-smiley-5421.gif[/img]

    1. Yeah right, and you approved on his conviction even the evidences against him are weak and insufficient. Fact is that they voted to save their asses from the angry mob. Simple. 😀

  27. …what Miriam said is all true. – DaSuperSolder

    Wow! Fantastic. Typical fanatic. If every time Miriam opens her mouth, for you, gospel truth would come out from it, it would be pointless in talking to you.

    I suggest you petition the Vatican to make Miriam a saint.

    1. THAT is lunacy. 😛 Do you remember what she said na “Dahil ba na-convict natin si Corona, ibig sabihin malinis tayo?! That’s hypocrisy!”

      Fact is that you’re a Aquino fanatic. 😉 You’re slowly becoming a Yellow Zombie to be exact.

    2. Translation: I really know nothing about the impeachment so ive got nothing to contribute (idiot).. all i can do is observe Miriam’s behavior (pathetic)

  28. Another good article Ilda! Don’t mind @jcc, just let his noytard followers including raissa robles celebrate their stupidness… at least we still have the minority to object and witness how messy the IC verdict was. God Bless and continue providing us VIEWS of our society today.

  29. Hello, Ilda, I am new at this venue. In any case, a rejoinder to this article, what say you about the recent “private” dinner of the president to which he invited all the senators who voted to unseat Corona, and excluded all those who dissented? News articles in the major dailies have Malacanang unapologetically stating that it was a private thanksgiving dinner. Thanks to the legislative for giving in to the executive to oust a judiciary unfriendly? Checks and balances at its finest…

    1. Hi Gene

      Welcome to GRP! Thanks for your comments.

      That dinner seems to prove a lot of things and one of them is that PNoy does appear to love partying instead of working. Obviously, the public also paid for it.

      Also, it seems he wants to charm the Senators. The question is why? It could have something to do with the Framework for Bangsamoro and more importantly, the cybercrime law. A few of the Senators were vocal about filing for amendments to get rid of some of the ridiculous provisions of the law. Maybe PNoy wants to change their mind. People like Sotto don’t need a lot of convincing.

      Unfortunately, this kind of representation has been proven to work with members of the congress in the past. It is so easy to “persuade” these people. An invitation to wine and dine seems to be enough. It’s ironic that PNoy keeps accusing the past administration of corruption. Please! As I said before, he doesn’t have the moral high ground to judge others.

  30. pano kaya kung sa mga kaso ni corona ngayon korte ay di mapatunayan na guilty sya,,,,? buti lang sana na maging guilty atlest di mapapahiya ang senado,, wat if not guilty?

  31. Many of those who convicted CJ Corona are lawyers. But it seems, no better than those on the sidewalks they are. No idea of the ” POISON FRUIT”?…EVIDENCE OBTAINED ILLEGALLY CANNOT BE USED AS EVIDENCE….Whatever happened to the Bank Secrecy Law? The Rule of Law must prevail. For all the violations on elementary legal procedures and rules of court, those who convicted CJ Corona have no right to run the country. We can punish them likewise and convict them as unworthy. REJECT THEM AND THEIR SIBLINGS!

  32. well said ma’am Ilda…. i think your article speaks the truth bout the mis-impeachment of former Chief justice corona… hate this vindictive administration.

    1. Lalabas at lalabas ang baho dahil ang isang nabubulok na bagay ay talagang sisingaw. Mga hunghang! mga magnanakaw ng kaperahan ng bayan! pag maliit na tao, o ordinaryong kawani ng gobyerno, kay daling madismis sa pwesto subalit SILA, silang mga nasa mataas na pwesto ng ating pamahalaan, ang aastig! di matinag sa pwesto! si CJ CORONA impeached kaagad. EH PAANO KAYO? paano ang inyong mas matinding mga kabuktutan? Nagbabayad kami ng maayos sa ating BIR, Subalit ano ang kapalit? Dun lang pala mapupunta ang ating pinagtrabahuan, pinaghirapan pagbabayad ng INCOME TAX ang kakapal! Mga sementado na ang mga pagmumukha sa kawalanghiyaan! sinusunog na ang inyong mga kaluluwa sa impyerno! Patawarin nawa kayo ni SATANAS!

      1. Dapat sana tayong mga “voters” matuto ng pumili ng matino na leaders. Si CJ Corona, impeached agad kasi may provision sa Constitution, “on how to removed appointed officials”. Sa mga elected officials mas mabilis pa sana, if majority of us voters, hindi natin sila ibinoto, e wala sana sila ngayon diyan.

    2. Mga hunghang! mga magnanakaw ng kaperahan ng bayan! pag maliit na tao, o ordinaryong kawani ng gobyerno, kay daling madismis sa pwesto subalit SILA, silang mga nasa mataas na pwesto ng ating pamahalaan, ang aastig! di matinag sa pwesto! si CJ CORONA impeached kaagad. EH PAANO KAYO? paano ang inyong mas matinding mga kabuktutan? Nagbabayad kami ng maayos sa ating BIR, Subalit ano ang kapalit? Dun lang pala mapupunta ang ating pinagtrabahuan, pinaghirapan pagbabayad ng INCOME TAX ang kakapal! Mga sementado na ang mga pagmumukha sa kawalanghiyaan! sinusunog na ang inyong mga kaluluwa sa impyerno! Patawarin nawa kayo ni SATANAS!

    1. Corrupt public officials who squandered the monies of the government like some of our senators who are implicated of the billion pesos scam will always look at some government officials as corrupt more than them. In the case of Justice Corona, those senators-judges have committed more heinous crime than Corona because Corona’s wealth came from sweat and hard work. Their’s came from Pork Barrel that they did not sweat it out: tax money.

      1. Corona’s wealth are not entirely from sweat and hardwork. No, but his is nothing in comparison to these buwayas currently sitting in the so called government offices..
        Such a shame

  33. Tagal na nitong lintik na impeachment trial na ito, eh bakit ibinabalik pa itong issue. Move on sister!! If you want to write something about mga kalokohan nitong mga senador, do so without bringing back old issues. Pinagtatanggol mo pa si Corona, eh malinaw din naman na may ginawa siyang kabulastugan, maliit man iyan o malaki.

    1. @Adrian

      I have written about the pork barrel fund scam. You can read it here and here.

      It is important to keep mentioning the human rights violations committed by Congress against former Chief Justice Renato Corona. His trial was a very important event in Philippine history because it showed how even lawmakers themselves ignored the rule of law. The trial likewise showed how members of congress bow down to the wishes of the executive branch. In other words, the removal of Corona from office proved that the President of the Philippines could control a supposedly independent branch of government using the pork barrel funds.

      The discrepancies in Corona’s SALN was explained during the trial itself. The trial did not prove that he stole the taxpayer’s money; it did not prove that he received money from anyone. The article highlighted how some of the senators who found him guilty committed worse crimes and yet they are still in office pocketing the people’s money.

    2. @Adrian

      By the way, you probably think this is a new article. It’s not. I wrote this June 2012.

      Mark my words: the gross violations of the constitution committed by members of Congress will forever haunt Filipinos.

      1. bulok lahat ng pinoy sa history…may selective memory tayong lahat. Gusto lang natin maalaala mga bagay na masaya. Kaya a few years from now when the name Renato Corona is mentioned, e segurado wala nang maka remember. In other cultures, they take all their lessons from experience and the events and personalities of the past…tayo hindi iba ang source natin ng inspiration much less life-changing decisions, kaya ito, paulit.ulit ang mga isyu…puro walang resolution…ang bobobo talaga, plain ignorant, clueless, and dumb (in the deepest sense of the word)!

      2. Just read this article after an FB repost by GRP and Ilda, you hit it right on the head. The impeachment trial for all its commission of wrongs and happenstance of proscribed acts made it a comedy of errors too grave in its effects against basic rights and liberties that there is nothing to laugh at. It is sad that views like what you espoused were not even or didn’t even seem to be a tad interesting to anyone, not then, not now, not even among the comments your article elicited.

    3. The case of Renato Corona is less severe than this crime committed by BUWAYANG congrssmnen and senators who acted as judges like PONCIO PILATO who seemed sinless but a grave sinner himself…sobrang kawawa na ang mga Pilipino sa kamay ng mga DEMONYONG pulitikong naghahari sa ating bansa..ANO BA ANG DAPAT NATING GAWIN MGA KABABAYAN KO?????

      1. We are still living within an ancient-old Masters-Slaves Societal System. The slaves must work hard to maintain the wealth of the Masters and given only a meager share of the harvest derived from his toil. Oftentimes, the Masters steal his shares. This leaves the slaves no other option but to steal his shares stolen by the Masters. He gets imprisoned as a thief. The Master-Thief is set free to continue stealing the peoples share.
        The only way we can change all this is to modify our Old Way of Thinking. What we really need is a New Mind Structure, which will enable us to find new solutions to our impoverished way of living. There is a better way,let’s find it. Actually,it is readily available – we must only have a New Way in solving our socio-economic problems of Age-Old Poverty, Hunger & Starvation and Floodings. The technological method and means was presented and launch in 1997 in Castilla, Sorsogon, but it was only utilized to gain Barangay Votes. The Fund was never to be found.

    4. this writer very well know what is happening and supported by facts. eh ikaw ano…. pagdugtong dugtungin mo kasi lahat na events para makita mo ang real picture!!

    5. hindi naman binalik ang issue. it was never gone in the first place.

      lahat ng nangyayari ngayon, nagsimula yan sa Corona impeachement. doon sila nagsimulang i-ignore ang batas.

      wake up, you troll. masakit sa ulo ang mag tulog-tulugan.

  34. I have to agree and it’s ironic that one of the worst injustice committed was made against the Chief Justice. This country is going to the dogs.

  35. MAGKAANO BA ANG BAYAD NI CORONA SA IYO… YOUR STATEMENT IS IRRELEVANT.. IF THE SENATORS CONVICTED CORONA, IT IS BECAUSE IT IS THEIR DUTY TO MAKE A TRIAL BY VIRTUE OF THE CONSTITUTION. IF THEY THOUGHT THAT CORONA IS QUILTY, IT IS THEIR PREROGATIVE. KONG MAY KASALANAN, THEN YOU FILE A CASE AGAINST THEM OR DO NOT VOTE THEM COME ELECTION TIME INSTEAD OF CONVINCING PEOPLE OF YOUR LOUSY THOUGHTS.. THE WRITER ONLY SHOWS THAT HE IS A BLIND FANATIC OF GMA OR CORONA..

    1. @ Jose Rizal

      U mad? Naka-all caps ka pa.
      Huwag mong gamitin ang pangalan ng pambansang bayani sa kalokohan mo, e talagang namang mababaw lang ang pinagbasehan ng mga senador na iyan sa judgment ng impeachment ni Corona.
      Hinanapan lang nila talaga ng butas si Corona dahil wala silang makita.

      At dun pa lang sa Napoles pork barrel scandal limpak limpak na siguro ang nakulimbat nila. Sila ang dapat tanggalin sa puwesto kasi pati mga anak nila pinasasawsaw pa nila sa pulitika.

      Isa ka pang Yellowtard.

      TROLL HARDER. :p

    2. @Jose Rizal.. You’re pathetic, pag di mo gusto ang opinyon ng ibang tao, bayaran na agad? pero pag tugma sa opinyon mo, pwede sila mag express ng opinyon nila? ilda was able to justify all her points, kakairita lang why you reacted that way.

    3. Nakakahiya ka sa paggamit ng pangalan ng ating bayani. Pati yun taong matino at nananahimik na eh dinadawit mo pa. Ano pagkakaiba mo kay Corona at GMA, nang-aagaw ka ng marangal na pangalan. Masahol pa yan sa pagnanakaw ng mga politicos natin.

    4. manahimik ka na lang kasi wala kang alam. magsalamin ka muna baka makita mo ang muta mo sa ilong.isa pa baka noong nag aaral ka pa eh nasa row 4 ka at malapit pa sa kubeta!!!!!!

  36. i remember one of corona’s statement ” sa akin ang huling halakhak”. and now i think hes getting it. corona for sure is much better compared with all these vampire politicians. mga bwisit silang lahat. mga hinayupak!!!

  37. Personally I’m glad Corona is out of the picture, no need to resurrect this issue…nagpapadala kayo sa panglilihis ni Jinggoy. Anyways impeachment has always been a nos. game…diba yan palagi sinasabi ng camp ni GMA noon diba? they just had a taste of their own medicine!

    1. And now it’s noynoy’s turn in getting a taste of his own as well. It’s quite hilarious to see dumb (comm group) and dumber (panot) try to save themselves.

  38. History will JUDGE them all… Senators… Congressmen… Prosecutors and PNOY… that was GRAND CONSPIRACY of the AQUINO ADMINISTRATION. I believed CJ Corona is not guilty and still the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court… GOD BLESS CJ CORONA.

    1. very much agree. they put a good man down….cosmic vengeance will eventually come them from the president and all the congressman and senators who voted to convict corona. KARMAHIN TALAGA SILA!!!!

  39. the cycle of corruption just goes on an on and on. This pattern of betraying the people had to stopped. DRAG THEM OUT AND HANG ALL OF THEM!!! PAREHO PAREHO YAN MGA INUTIL AT DAMUHOG. LOWEST Form of Animals on Earth.

  40. Corona is no better. IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE. THEY ARE ALL THIEVES AND TRAITORS. FIRING SQUAD MO LAHAT YAN LIKE CHINA. NO IFS, OR AND BUT.

  41. Tanung nyo si rep tupas kung bakit nagkukumahug syang ma impeach si cj corona samantalang BUSY sya pagpagawa ng kanyang mansion, bakit nga? Jaz azking.

  42. That’s one of those tactics by the yellow team on “Selective Justice”. Just by mere SALN understatement, the chief justice was impeach

    Selective Justice is no justice at all.

  43. I DID NOT KNOW PERSONALLY WHO CJ CORONA WAS … BUT I DEEPLY SYMPATHIZED WITH HIM DURING THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL … IT WAS TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE … YONG MGA PROSECUTORS AT SENATOR-JUSTICES NA NAG CONVICT SA KANYA … SILA ANG EMBODIMENT NG KLASE NG MGA PULITIKO AT PULITIKA DITO SA PINAS … WALA SA LOGIC MGA PINAGSASABI AT PRINESENT NA MGA EVIDENCES, YET TOTOO NAMAN NA NAGPAMUDMOD NG DAP ANG AQUINO ADMINISTRATION para lang i convict si cj… WALA TALAGA SA AYOS … OMG KUNG GANITO NA LANG PALAGI MGA NANANALONG PULITIKO SA ATING BANSA … TALAGANG WALA TAYO PATUTUNGUHAN … DAHIL LANG SA KAPRITSO NG ABNORMAL NA TAO, NA CONVICT ANG ISANG MATAAS NA MAGISTRADO … BALIW TALAGA, LAHAT SILA WALANGHIYA

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