‘Impeach trial is proof the gov’t adheres to the Constitution not ‘one-man rule’’

MANILA, Philippines—House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Thursday said the ongoing impeachment trial on Chief Justice Renato Corona was proof that the government was adhering to the Constitution and not under a “one-man rule”.

Belmonte was reacting to Corona’s “one-man-rule” speech earlier at the Philippine Women Judges Association at the Manila Hotel.

Corona called on women-judges to continue the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Cecilia Munoz-Palma campaign against the “one-man rule”.

Belmonte said the idea of a “one-man rule” was ridiculous and used as an example the impeachment trial against Corona which he told reporters was “provided for by the Constitution and that’s all the president did.”

“Knowing how probably difficult it is, still, sinabi niya [President Benigno Aquino III] na yun ang nasa Constitution. ‘Yun ang daan, ‘yun ang paraan, ‘yun ang tamang paraan and that’s what he did. I think we should say hindi one-man rule ‘yan.”

House majority floor leader Neptali Gonzales II added the impeachment trial was in fact “a process of complying with the law.”

“Diyan ka dadaan before you can remove or even accuse an impeachable officer,” he said.