The House minority claims the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona was rushed “in aid of election” by some of the members of the prosecution panel eyeing a run for the Senate in 2013.
The way Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez sees it, “an impeachment trial, with full media coverage almost every day, is a godsend to any congressman eyeing a run in the next senatorial elections. They will become household names and instant celebrities.”
Lost opportunity
The aborted impeachment trial of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez last March (Gutierrez resigned before the trial could begin) was a downer for senatorial aspirants from the majority bloc who saw their “golden opportunity” to boost their political stock slip away, added Suarez in a phone interview.
Suarez, a staunch ally of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said the proponents of Corona’s impeachment were prodded to put their plans in “overdrive” after a recent survey on senatorial preferences for 2013 showed reelectionists, returning senators, and kin of politicians still on top.
“Except for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, there were very few new names that cracked the Top 12 in the survey. So now you know why they want to have an impeachment trial in January and finish it within six months,” said Suarez, adding that De Lima “has made herself a political career by making a villain out of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”
The House leadership has already named 10 of the 11-member prosecution team which will be led by House justice committee chair Niel Tupas Jr.
The other members are Representatives Lorenzo Tañada III (Quezon), Raul Daza (Northern Samar), Rodolfo Fariñas (Ilocos Norte), Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (Cavite), Joseph Emilio Abaya (Cavite), Giorgidi Aggabao (Isabela), Kaka Bag-ao (Akbayan), Neri Colmenares (Bayan Muna), and Reynaldo Umali (Mindoro Oriental).
Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna (Citizens Battle Against Corruption or Cibac) were designated alternate prosecutors while Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo has been tapped as spokesperson.