Four Cebuano lawmakers signed the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona, while three chose not to sign and two were on leave.
Representatives Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” del Mar of Cebu City’s north district, Benhur Salimbangon of Cebu’s 4th district, Ramon Red Durano VI of Cebu’s 5th district and Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district signed the complaint.
The articles of impeachment were forwarded by the Lower House to the Senate early yesterday (see related story on Page 35).
Representatives Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district, Pablo Garcia of Cebu’s 2nd district and Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district didn’t sign the complaint.
Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district is in the US for checkup while while Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Arturo Radaza is still on medical leave and will return in Congress in January.
The One Cebu Party, which counts Quisumbing, Salimbangon and the two Garcias as members had a conscience vote on the complaint.
Both Quisumbing and Salimbangon said Corona will have a chance to defend himself.
“I signed the articles of impeachment against Chief Justice as there has been some concern on the part of the Filipino people on recent decisions by the Supreme Court,” Quisumbing said.
Questionable practices
He said he understood the articles of impeachment presented during a caucus in Congress last Monday afternoon.
“When I signed it, I think there were already 102 signatures,” Quisumbing said.
“The impeachment process is in line with President Aquino’s commitment to the Filipino people to strengthen institutions by rooting out questionable practices,” he added.
Quisumbing said the articles of impeachment need not go through the House justice committee unlike in the cases against former president Gloria Arroyo and Ombudsman Mercedita Gutierrez.
Salimbangon also said he just wanted Corona to explain his side on the allegations against him.
“That is the only democratic process available to an impeachable official. The impeachment trial can be the best venue for him to reply and prove his innocence,” Salimbangon said.
Quisumbing said while the complaint by some congressmen that they have not enough time to evaluate the impeachment complaint was valid, the issues that hounded Corona have already been publicized in media.
Both Quisumbing and Salimbangon denied reports that the congressmen were blackmailed by the Palace into signing the complaint in exchange for the approval of their pork barrel funds.
No basis
Del Mar said she signed the complaint because there are sufficient grounds for Corona’s impeachment.
“The Senate trial of the impeachment will enable us to get to the truth with full opportunity given to both Houses in proving the charges and Chief Justice Renato Corona in presenting his defense,” she said.
When asked if the trial will create a constitutional crisis, Del Mar said she doesn’t think so. “Resolving the issue against the Chief Justice will strengthen the judiciary,” she said.
Pablo John and his father, Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, said they didn’t sign the complaint because because there was not enough time for them to decide on the merits.
The younger Garcia earlier said three of the four articles of impeachment are based on how Corona voted in certain cases.
“But if his vote was an impeachable offense, why not include the Justices who voted with him? You cannot impeach a justice on the basis of how he voted,” he said.
Concerning the allegations of corruption raised against Corona because he didn’t declare his assets and liabilities, Garcia said that there is still no basis.
“But long before Corona, even during the time of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, the SC ruled that the SALN law did not apply to them.”
Substantiated
In a radio interview, Gullas said he didn’t see the grounds to justify the filing of an impeachment complaint against Corona. He said the articles cited in the complaint cannot be considered as impeachable offenses.
Gullas said if the contention was the debt of gratitude Corona had over his appointment by Arroyo, then the same should also apply to other justices appointed by President Aquino.
Cebu’s legal community were mixed in their reaction. “Regardless of the position one holds, he or she can still be held liable,” said Court of Appeals Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles.
Ingles said the impeachment complaint should not be viewed as an attack to the entire judiciary. “The (impeachment) complaint was personally directed to him (Corona),” Ingles said.
Lawyer Earl Bonachita, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter, said he hopes that the charges filed against Corona are substantiated.
“The impeachment should not just be intended to send a chilling message to the judiciary,” he said.
Msgr. Achilles Dakay, media liaison officer of the Cebu Archdiocese, said justices appointed to the High Court should not be tied up with the politician who appointed them.
“They should rise above partisanship. They should not be beholden to the person who appointed them,” Dakay said. With Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol and Multimedia Coordinator Marian Z. Codilla