Akbayan protesters arrive near Senate, call for Corona conviction

MANILA, Philippines—Around 1,000 protesters from Akbayan arrived near the Senate area calling for Chief Justice Renato Corona’s conviction later Tuesday.

The group, carrying placards bearing yellow bold letters that read “Convict Corona,” and “Tama Na Palusot, Convict Corona,” arrived in front of the Manila Film Center around 1 p.m. as they wait for the final ruling on Corona’s case.

Akbayan Representative Walden Bello said they are confident that Corona will be found guilty by the Senate, acting as impeachment court, and would be removed from public office.

“This decision will effectively flush out the remaining corrupt vestiges of (former President and now Pampanga Representative) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and sustain the momentum of reforms,” he said.

Bello said that Corona’s conviction is “the logical conclusion to his loyal service to Arroyo.”