Aquino aide: Public opinion to help senators convict Corona

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III’s political adviser believes the adverse public opinion of Chief Justice Renato Corona would help convince senators to convict the country’s highest magistrate of the offenses alleged against him in his impeachment by the House of Representatives.

“I think the senators will realize the strength of the impeachment complaint as well as the overwhelming support of the people against Corona,” said Ronald Llamas, Mr. Aquino’s adviser on political affairs.

“The mere fact that Corona’s trust ratings in the recent Pulse Asia survey were the lowest among key government officials shows that the people are convinced that his loyalty is only to his former boss GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) and not to the people,” Llamas said in a text message.

In a Pulse Asia survey conducted on November 10 to November 23, Corona managed to only get a 29-percent trust rating from among 1,200 respondents nationwide.

“As representatives of the people, just like the almost 200 members of the House of Representatives who impeached corona, I believe the Senate will side with the people, who are overwhelmingly for the impeachment of Corona,” Llamas said.