Santiago votes to acquit Corona

ON CORONA’S ‘RESIGNATION’. Senator-Judge Miriam Defensor-Santiago comments on Chief Justice Renato Corona's rumored resignation. Video by INQUIRER.net's Noy Morcoso III

MANILA, Philippines – Senator-Judge Miriam Defensor-Santiago voted “not guilty” in favor of Chief Justice Renato Corona after a 20-minute speech during the final day of the impeachment trial Tuesday.

“Would you be surprised if I say that I vote not guilty?” Santiago, who has been consistent in her opposition of the way the prosecution team had conducted itself, said at the end of her statement.

Santiago maintained that the accusation that Corona failed to declare $2.4 million in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth was not an impeachable offense.

“The defendant admitted that he did not declare his dollar accounts… Does this amount to an impeachable offense?” Santiago asked.

She added that the Constitution provided that impeachable offenses included graft and corruption, bribery, treason and other similar high crimes and betrayal of public trust.