Aquino thanks 188 lawmakers who impeached Chief Justice Corona

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III thanked on Tuesday the 188 congressmen who impeached Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, saying that the legislature was able to show its “capability to protect the interest of the people without any qualms, with loyalty to its duty, and with recognition of the sufferings of the people.”

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

“Maraming maraming salamat po (Thank you very, very much),” the President told the lawmakers not only from the his party, the Liberal Party but coalition partners that included National People’s Coalition, National Unity Party and Nacionalista Party.

In a political caucus he called for a day after Corona’s impeachment in the House, President Aquino justified the impeachment of the Chief Justice, accusing the latter of being the “protector not of justice but the protector of (former President) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”

Now that the impeachment case has been transmitted to the Senate for trial, Aquino said Corona would have the chance to answer the accusations against him and take responsibility for his so-called offenses.

“He will be tried under a process that will reveal to the people the whole truth about his betrayal of public trust, and his culpable violation of the Constitution,” the President said, adding:  “Mr. Corona, in the Congress and the Senate, you will face the one who put you in the position: the people.”

The President said the country has been undergoing a process “to stop the continued destruction of one wayward magistrate in the sacred institution of the Supreme Court.”