Leyte rep warns of consequences of impeaching Corona

MANILA, Philippines—A former ally of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday warned about the “terrible” effect of plans to railroad the impeachment Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Just minutes before the majority holds a caucus at the Rolando R. Andaya hall, Leyte Representative Sergio Apostol said that his peers in the majority should use its superior numbers sparingly and not to “destroy an institution.”

“The consequences of impeaching the Chief Justice will be terrible as it will seek to destroy an institution. There should be a compelling reason to impeach and not only for revenge or forcing an institution to do your will,” Apostol said in an interview.

Apostol, a former Lakas-Kampi who switched to the Liberal Party (LP) shortly before the 2010 polls, said as of now, he does not see any reason why Congress should resort to taking a one-third vote to fast-track the impeachment of Corona which was expected to be the main topic in the caucus.

Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño said that the militant bloc would support the impeachment of Corona if there was “good reason” and not on tyrannical grounds.

Cavite Representative Joseph E.A. Abaya, an LP stalwart, confirmed that the majority could easily get 97 votes or one-third of Congress to impeach Corona.

When asked before he went inside the caucus, Abaya said he still does not have a copy of the actual resolution to impeach Corona which was the main topic in the caucus announced the previous night.