Arroyo SC appointee to handle Corona petition vs impeachment trial—sources

Associate Justice Martin Villarama. sc.gov.ph photo

MANILA, Philippines – An appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will handle the petition filed by Chief Justice Corona before the Supreme Court to stop the impeachment proceedings against him and nullify the Articles of Impeachment, according to sources who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to media.

Associate Justice Martin Villarama will replace Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco who inhibited from handling Corona’s case after his son, Lord Allan, was among 188 lawmakers at the House of Representatives who voted to impeach the Chief Justice.

Villarama, whom Arroyo appointed in 2009, voted for the issuance of a temporary restraining order against the opening of Corona’s foreign currency deposits.

Corona also filed a supplemental petition seeking to stop the trial on the ground that his right to due process was being violated due to the alleged bias of some senator-judges.