3 Aquino allies in Senate vow to maintain neutrality

MANILA, Philippines—Three senator- judges allied with the Aquino administration assured on Tuesday that political alliances would not influence their decision to either convict or acquit Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“We will decide on the basis of evidence on hand and on the basis of what we believe to be to the best interest of the nation and not on the basis of political alliances,” said Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.

Senator Teofisto Guingona III said he would maintain his neutrality, saying he was only after the truth.

Pangilinan and Guingona were among the five who have been accused by Corona of allegedly helping the prosecution team. The three others were Senate Minority Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Serge Osmeña III and Franklin Drilon.

All five voted to defy the temporary retraining order issued by the Supreme Court against the opening of dollar bank accounts allegedly owned by the Chief Justice.

“I always maintain my neutrality at ang hinahanap lang natin dito yung katotohanan. Yon lang naman ang hinahanap natin (We are just after the truth. We are just after that),” Guingona said.

Guingona said Corona’s accusation has no basis and has no bearing on how he would conduct himself during the trial.

Senator Ralph Recto, who is also allied with the administration, rejected speculations that he would go along with the administration’s thrust to oust Corona.

“Hindi ba nagsumpa kami dito to be fair and just? Kaya hindi ko maintindihan ang mga tanong n’yo,” Recto told reporters in an interview in the Senate.

“We have to be fair and just,” the senator stressed.