Corona asks SC to stop impeach trial

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona has asked the Supreme Court to stop the impeachment proceedings and nullify the Articles of Impeachment.

“After giving due course to the Petition, render judgment declaring the Impeachment Complaint null and void ab initio [void from the beginning],” according to the petition that was filed by Corona’s lawyers before the high tribunal Wednesday.

At the same time, Corona asked the Supreme Court to stop the Senate, acting as impeachment court, from compelling banks to produce Corona’s bank records and to stop the Senate from further receiving evidence in relation to paragraphs 2.3 and 2.4 of the Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment.

Paragraph 2.3 is about properties allegedly not included in the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Networth of Corona in violation of the anti-graft law. Paragraph 2.4 is about alleged accumulated ill-gotten wealth of the Chief Justice.

Corona’s petition noted that the impeachment court should not have proceeded with the trial on the basis of the complaint which was “riddled with constitutional defects too numerous to withstand even cursory legal scrutiny.”

“Undoubtedly, public admissions by members of the House of Representatives declared that there was no opportunity to read the complaint. They also declared that the majority of signatories signed without reading the Complaint but reputably in exchange for material considerations,” it said.

It added that the impeachment court committed grave abuse of discretion in retaining paragraph 2.3 of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

It added that 2.3 and 2.4 were based on mere speculation, which is insufficient to support a complaint. Corona pointed out that the allegations in paragraph 2.3 and 2.4 were based only on reports and suspicions.

“Time and again, this Honorable Court has held that charges based on mere suspicion and speculation cannot be given credence and it would be absurd if mere suspicion and speculation would be treated as a valid basis to oust an incumbent Chief Justice of this Honorable Court,” they added.